NICE GUYS DON'T ALWAYS FINISH LAST, JUST ASK CLIVE OWEN. THIS BRITISH BORN ACTOR IS QUICKLY RISING IN THE ACTING RANKS TO BECOME A HOLLYWOOD MUST-HAVE.

STARRING OPPOSITE SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN THE BUSINESS INCLUDING ANGELINA JOLIE IN BEYOND BORDERS, KEIRA KNIGHTLEY IN KING ARTHUR, JULIA ROBERTS AND JUDE LAW IN CLOSER, JENNIFER ANISTON IN LAST MONTH'S DERAILED AND NOW NOT ONLY JODIE FOSTER BUT ALSO DENZEL WASHINGTON IN INSIDE MAN, CLIVE IS WORKING WITH AND BECOMING KNOWN AS THE MAN ON THE INSIDE!

• So what made you take on this interesting challenge in Inside Man?
  Well, I am a huge fan of Spike Lee’s, so I was really thrilled to be in his movie. I think he’s one of the most distinctive voices in movies. And he put together such an incredible cast. I had a great time.

• What is different for you about working with a director like Spike?
  Well, in terms of shooting, it’s very different. I have never encountered shooting in both directions at the same time. It’s like making six movies at once. And it makes the whole process much more alive somehow. The rhythm becomes unpredictable. He shoots two actors in a scene at the same time even if one is off-camera so the material can be used later, like for the DVD. The phone calls between Denzel Washington and I, for example, were both shot live as we were literally on the phone. We had two cameras, one shooting him, one shooting me. It’s faster as well. Spike is very dynamic on the set, and very sure about what he wants. We shot the whole film in 31 days I think.

• This is also the first time you have worked with Denzel Washington. Can you talk about him?
  I’d be delighted to. For me, he has the massive stature of a full-blown movie star and he’s a really good, fine, intelligent actor. He’s got the whole thing. For a long time, he’s been one of the main serious leading men. He’s been around in movies for a long time and I’ve always respected and liked him since I first saw his work. He has always had this presence and intelligence in everything he does.

• Your character Dalton Russell spends much of the film wearing a mask. What sort of challenge did that present?
  Well, it was a big concern. When I read the script I thought, “This is a great cast, what do I have to offer?” Initially I said, “Get somebody else to do it and I’ll do voice-over for you.” But the reality is, you’re going to project your voice in a different way when you’re wearing a mask. And I realised this was the part. The guy needs to have his face covered, because of what he’s doing, holding up a bank. So you just get on with the situation and that’s what it is. For me it was weird working with Denzel in the beginning since he couldn’t see my eyes. Initially it was sort of hard to engage but we found a way. It’s all about rhythm at the end of the day.

• Didn’t Spike take you to a New York Knicks basketball game while he was trying to persuade you to take the role?
  Yes, and that was pretty seductive. We had talked about it previously and I expressed a few reservations. He said, “Let’s meet again when you come out to New York”. I assumed it would be over dinner or drinks but there was just a ticket left for me for the Knicks game. And then when we were there we didn’t talk about the film at all. He got completely into the game and at the end of the game he asked, “So are you going to do it or what?” And I said, “Yeah”. That was the end of any conversation about the problems. He said, “Really?” And I said, “Yeah, I trust you, Spike.”

• There is less proselytizing in Inside Man than some of Spike’s other films, and a lot more humour. Was that appealing?
  Well there are still issues which Spike added to the script. And the way he does that is so alive, so enjoyable. I actually love the fact that Spike is controversial, that he stirs people up. It’s a great thing. There aren’t enough people making movies who can do that.

• He certainly has something to say about the graphic violence in video games. What’s your take on that?
  I would never in a million years let my girls touch a game like that. They are not game kids, fortunately. But I would stop them playing games like that game in the film, that’s for sure. You can’t be too careful these days. We totally monitor what they do on-line for example.

• Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Denzel’s partner. Did you already know him?
  Yes, we met in London and then we ended up doing two movies together. He’s also in Alfonso Cuaron’s movie THE CHILDREN OF MEN which we shot in London after INSIDE MAN. He’s a great actor and a really lovely guy.

• This is a particularly unusual bank heist in that we are never quite sure what your character is after. What do you think about his motivation: Is he after the diamonds or does he want to cause trouble for the owner of the bank?
  It’s both. And yes, it is a very unusual bank heist because the money is left in the vault. There is no question he’s in it for something, and that he wants to expose something or someone. It’s a very clever crime, that’s for sure because there’s a moral motif behind it and there is also the question of personal gain.

• Are you amazed at how your career has taken off in Hollywood these last few years?
  I am amazed but I am also working hard and working a lot. I’m going to take a very sizeable break soon because I ended up in this situation where I made four films back to back. There were always things I wanted to do, like go on holidays, but there were these projects and people I wanted to work with which kept cropping up. I do need to take a long break after this because it’s not an ideal way of working. I am one of those actors who really likes to prepare for their films. I don’t like them to come at me that fast. But I really wanted to do this one.

• It sounds like you have probably been missing your family.
  Yes, but I’ll spend the whole summer with them. I am so ready to hang out with the kids. I am taking time off from August until the end of the year. I won’t be available for anything else until January.

• Do you have any particular plans with your family?
  No, I’ll just be living my normal life with the kids. I’ll spend the summer holidays with them and when they go back to school, I’ll take them there and pick them up. It hasn’t been so terrible. When I made INSIDE MAN, it was during their summer holiday last year so we all hung out together in New York which was great. Then I was in London working for five months. The worst part has been shooting in Toronto recently. I’ve been making a really wild and original action movie called SHOOT ‘EM UP with Paul Giamatti and Monica Bellucci.

• You have worked with some very big names in recent years. Have you ever had a difficult experience?
  No. I just feel very blessed. I hear stories all the time about people being difficult in the movie business. But in the last few years I’ve had the easiest, smoothest ride with all the people I’ve worked with. I am constantly surprised at how ordinary, how smart, how easy they are to work with. I honestly didn't have a bad experience for a long time. I can’t remember thinking I didn’t get on with somebody for a long long time. It’s only a few years ago that I started working with this calibre of actors and actresses, and you always suspect that there might be some baggage that comes with being a huge star. I feel now I was probably very naïve. People are often big stars because they’re smart, great people.

• Has working with those names helped make you a better actor?
  I would hope. I always try to get better. I think you do learn from everybody you work with.

• Do you think there are people who are intimidated when they are working with you?
  No, because I am not intimidating to work with. I am very easy to work with.

• What’s the secret to maintaining a happy marriage when you work opposite so many gorgeous leading ladies?
  The secret is, I am a professional. They’re all really lovely and I had a great time working with them. But I am a happily married man and it’s work. You know, I got that all done when I was 20 years old, a long time ago!

- Video Ezy Australia