Just a minute with Samuel L.Jackson

24/08/2007 11:24

By Michelle Nichols

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Samuel L. Jackson’s acting career has spanned more than three decades with his movies making him one of Hollywood’s highest grossing actors, but the actor dubbed "Mr Cool" still worries the roles will dry up.

"I’m scared of the phones stopping ringing for me to work. Like all actors I’m always afraid I am never going to work again when I finish a project," said Jackson, whose new movie "Resurrecting the Champ" opens in U.S. theatres on Friday.

According to www.boxofficemojo.com, the actor -- who will turn 59 in December -- is the eighth highest grossing actor with the 47 movies in which he has played a supporting or lead role earning more than $2.2 billion (1.1 billion pounds).

"I still have a passion for acting, it’s one of those things ... and if it stops being movies then maybe I can do plays," said Jackson.

Best known for his Academy Award nominated role as a hitman in "Pulp Fiction," Jackson transforms himself into a homeless former boxer living a lie in "Resurrecting the Champ," which also stars Josh Hartnett.

He spoke to Reuters about his career -- and being uncool:

Q: What do you look for in a role?

A: "First of all it’s always the story. I believe we’re story tellers ... One of the real .....continued below

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facts about me doing stuff is that I would never do a movie I would never pay my money to see. I’m an audience member."

Q: Who or what has influenced your career?

A: "It’s hard to say, because I’m so driven personally. I’m an only child so I have these goals that I set for myself and I don’t think about a lot of other people. I admire the work of Morgan Freeman. Morgan’s one of those actors I could go and watch work and forget I was watching him. I always wanted people to be able to do that (with me)."

Q: At this point in your career which movie would you most like to be remembered for?

A: "Wow, that’s a difficult question. I’m trying to think of something that displays what I do in a great way. As much as I don’t want to say it, I guess I have to say "Pulp Fiction." Just because it allows me to be so many different things in the guise of one character.

Some people go their whole career and nobody can name one film they were in or say one line that they have ever said. People can quote my dialogue to me. So it’s a very fascinating phenomenon that I have been in films that people grab hold to like that."

Q: How do you feel about being dubbed "Mr Cool"?

A: "I laugh about it a lot because my life is so mundane it’s sort of ridiculous. I don’t do anything cool, I don’t go clubbing, I don’t hang out, I don’t party. I read, I play golf, I watch television, I watch movies, that’s pretty much it and I go to work.

It’s really great that I play some characters that have characteristics that people identify with me and I guess there is a level of confidence and kind of calm I exude when I am around that might make people think I am cool."

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