The Mentalist star Simon Baker has suggested that his character Patrick Jane is growing darker.

Baker told Entertainment Weekly that the genius crime-fighter is on an “interesting journey”.

“It feels to me a little bit that, here’s a guy who is likable and empathetic,” he said. “And he’s slowly turning to the dark side and [becoming] maybe less empathetic.”

The Australian star admitted that he wants to keep reinventing the Jane character as the fourth season of The Mentalist continues.

“It’s always difficult when you’re on a show that goes for more than a year or a couple of years,” he explained. “I’m always looking for things that are interesting and different that I can exploit within the character.”

He added: “If they’re able to take him into these different paths and avenues, it makes it more refreshing for me.”

Baker revealed in October that he is contracted up to a potential seventh season of the CBS drama.

“We are in our fourth year, but I think my character is unlike most characters on TV,” he said. “If I put my mind to it, I can still make the character entertaining for me to play. I can still challenge myself a little bit.”

The Mentalist continues on Thursdays at 10/9c on CBS. The show will return to Channel 5 in the UK in February.

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Actor Simon Baker will earn $430,000 for each episode of The Mentalist according to a new deal, making him the highest paid actor in a US TV drama. The Australian star will eclipse Hugh Laurie of the House and Laurence Fishburn in CSI .