( CNN ) -- `` The Borgias '' are back for a second season and according to star Jeremy Irons we can expect even more nefarious plotting and lustful encounters . The 63-year-old actor has had a long career including an Academy Award for `` Reversal of Fortune '' and voicing the malevolent Scar in `` The Lion King . '' He recently spoke to CNN about playing a pope and his not-so-secret vice . CNN : What can we expect this season ? Jeremy Irons : You can expect a good ride , a naughty ride , a good ride . I think you can expect an even more exciting ride than last season . It 's perkier ; it 's faster with a lot of surprises . CNN : When you first signed up , were you worried that it would be historical soft porn ? Irons : No , because I know Showtime , I know Neil Jordan . I thought that we 'd avoid that and I think we have . CNN : The show is like `` The Sopranos '' in the Vatican . Irons : I would say that 's right . CNN : The characters are pretty venal . Irons : Yes life was more on the edge . Life was not valued quite as highly as it is today . People were used to fighting , people were used to dying . Death was much more a part of life than it is today . Children and women would die in childbirth . Men would die . The whole perception was different . CNN : You play a pope who has children . Would you be surprised if it was discovered that Pope Benedict has kids ? Irons : Um , not particularly ( laughs ) . CNN : Your voice is like catnip to the ladies . Irons : I do n't think about it . You use what you 've got ! Before I was married I did n't sound like this because I did n't smoke so much . CNN : So smoking is good for actors ? Irons : Well in truth , to be serious , I suppose it 's not particularly good , but it does give me huge pleasure and allows me time for reflection . If I did yoga perhaps I would n't have to , but I do n't . I go outside and have a smoke and I find those gaps in the hurly burly of the film world very useful . CNN : Is the cigarette accompanied by a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit ? Irons : Often ( speaking with a full mouth ) . There 's a chocolate biscuit in my mouth at the moment and a cup of tea but no cigarette . But there will be one in a minute . CNN : Your son Max ( `` Red Riding Hood '' ) is gorgeous ! Irons : That 's very nice . He takes after his mother . CNN : I have little kids . I think I 've seen `` The Lion King '' 30 times . Irons : There 's something wrong with you . CNN : Do you get people coming up to you with your kids ? Irons : I do and the kids sort of look at me so embarrassed . Scar is a lion on the screen for them . They stand there looking long suffering while their parents make me write them an autograph . CNN : What 's your favorite movie ? Irons : It 's strange because it 's always the experience of making it that 's the great thing . Making `` The Mission '' was fantastic , making `` Dead Ringers '' was a great experience , making `` Lolita '' was a great experience . Making `` The Borgias '' is a great experience . We have a lot of fun , great crew , great cast , shooting in a fantastic city , Budapest . I get up and I 'm really pleased to work and that 's what I 'll remember . In a way , it never has much actually to do with what the movie 's like . CNN : Budapest is a beautiful city . Irons : I like the youth of the city and it has a slightly crumbly nature about it because they have n't quite got the money to finish everything off .
' Clyde plays Rodrigo ' , a Pope , in ` ` The Borgias '' The actor plays the malevolent King in ` ` The Lion King '' ` ` Making ' The Borgias ' is a great experience , we have a lot of fun , '' he said .