A lot of people worked with Steven Spielberg, and all of them thought to work with the great director was amazing.

Benedict Cumberbatch: Dream come true to work with Steven Spielberg on War Horse. Attending the Royal premiere of War Horse, Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch said that director Steven Spielberg was "utterly approachable and inclusive" on the film set.

"There is nothing that makes you feel too in awe to approach him, to collaborate with him, to have a director/actor relationship with him," Cumberbatch said.

"It's a phenomenal circus of talent he takes with him but he makes you feel integral...that's a very special thing."

Cumberbatch stars as Major Jamie Stewart in the First World War epic, which has been nominated for best drama at the Golden Globes. 

Jeremy Irvine: about War Horse

What was it like being directed by Spielberg?

I got a phone call saying could I come and meet Steven Spielberg for tea in Claridges Hotel in London at nine o’clock the next morning. Naturally, like any actor, I was absolutely terrified! I went into the room—and, within five minutes, it was completely relaxed.

This ability to put you at ease is one of Steven’s greatest assets. When you’re comfortable, you do your best work. You turn up on these film sets and they’re huge. But, the way Steven works is incredibly intimate. You come to the set, you present what you’ve brought to the table—your homework—what you think you should do. He’ll watch that, tweak it, mould it and maybe tell you to do something completely different. From that, you get a performance.

Actor Liam Cunningham has revealed how he was petrified before his first day filming with screen legend Steven Spielberg.

The director cast the former ESB worker in his new World War One blockbuster 'War Horse'. But despite years of experience, the respected star of stage and screen was wracked with nerves before cameras rolled.

"I was in a sweat that first morning but once you start working with Steven, that's all forgotten," Mr Cunningham revealed at the Irish premiere of the 'War Horse' in the Savoy Cinema last night.

The tear-jerker follows a farm boy who tries to track down his beloved horse after it's shipped to the battlefields of France in World War One.

Critics have credited Mr Cunningham with one of the most powerful performances in the film, as an army doctor who saves a horse.

However, the actor believes it could have gone the other way.

"In the film I tell a sergeant to shoot the horse, and they had the horse trained to dip its head as soon as the gun came out. I remember thinking, thank God I'm saving the horse, because if I had shot the much-loved star of a Spielberg movie, well that would been the end of my career," he said.