I know, a lot of the films I've done, it's obvious I'm going to beat up six guys and just walk out the door. There's not a lot of motivating factors - it's just action for the sake of action.
A movie, it's like a very complicated timepiece. There's a lot of wheels in a watch. And some of those wheels, if they don't turn right, then, you know, the watch ain't gonna tell the time.
If we want to talk about the movies that have made an impact in what I do in the action realm - Bruce Lee in 'Enter the Dragon.' I've watched that countless times.
If you got a good imagination, a lot of confidence and you kind of know what you are saying, then you might be able to do it. I know a lot of colorful characters at home that would make great actors.
It's not like I'm dying to do work that's taken seriously, and I'm not looking to become a thespian. It's not what I'm looking for; I'm just looking to do quality work.
I don't do isolation body building; I just do practical things that help me with the kind of things that are asked of me in action movies. You know, a lot of kick boxing, a lot of sparring.
Musclemen grow on trees. They can tense their muscles and look good in a mirror. So what? I'm interested in practical strength that's going to help me run, jump, twist, punch.
A lot of actors are frustrated because they want to do things that are different and test themselves. Character actors are always looking for something the opposite of what they did.
Looking good and feeling good go hand in hand. If you have a healthy lifestyle, your diet and nutrition are set, and you're working out, you're going to feel good.
And it was a great experience, you know, to travel the world and compete at a certain level. It teaches you discipline, focus, and certainly keeps you out of trouble.
People like 'Crank,' some people like 'Redemption.' I'm just happy to do things that satiate a different part of me, that test me a little bit.
Some of my favorite movies are action movies. You want something good to say. That comes from good writing. But writing is not a skill I possess, unfortunately.
Me in a cape? I don't fancy that. Tight tights? Nah! I don't think that's right for me. I just respond more to true stories; that's my flavour.
When I was growing up, my dad didn't have weights, so he made himself a weight bench. Instead of a hand-me-down jacket, it was a hand-me-down weight bench.
I endured many weeks of it, but I had a big background in martial arts and fighting as a kid, so kind of all the problems got brushed away and I was ready.
A kid is something precious, and you want to protect it and keep it fun. I'm not a dad, but I've seen people and how they behave with their kids.
Every actor has a strength, and sometimes you just respond to things that you see yourself better at. I'm aware of what I can and can't do.
I really enjoyed working with Guy Ritchie. One, it gave me a career, and two, they're probably a couple of the best films I've ever done.
Most guys, tough or not, hide emotions. I know a lot of tough guys; they're just as weak as the next man, but they don't show it.
The insurance of working with a big, already successful franchise just gives you the chance to do other things on a more personal level.
In L.A., it's very hard to have some kind of conscience of some style out there. The weather's too hot; there's no seasons.
I'm sure everyone that has ever done an action movie has just drooled over how full of talent Bruce Lee was and how unique he was.
How long you can continue to be good at something is how much you believe in yourself and how much hard work you do with the training.
Human nature says that you want a bargain, whether you want the goods or not. You think that something is a steal, you'll buy it.
Once you expose your private life, if you give one little bit, the floodgates are open and everyone's got a free range for you.
I'm prepared to take risks. And every movie that I do is a risk. No one knows what the movie is going out turn out like.
Every single day has a different combination of exercises. It always changes, and that's what keeps things interesting.
Without doing the big blockbusters, I wouldn't be able to find the money to go after little projects that I want to do.
I'm more into MMA than any other sport. I watch a lot of the UFC fights. I have since it first came onto the scene.
Working with Sylvester Stallone is beyond a 'pinch yourself' moment. I remember growing up watching his films.
I'm a big Bruce Lee fan, and if I saw Bruce Lee try to be some namby-pamby lawyer, I'd want my money back.
I've always got a home in England. My family and friends are there. It's a place I hold very close to me.
I just gravitate to those more testosterone-filled sort of parts than me playing something a bit more fairy-like.
Look at someone like Edward Norton. A truly phenomenal actor. He's definitely went to school and trained.
Just because the rest of the people in Hollywood don't do their stunts doesn't mean I don't.
I think being a competitive diver for years helps you focus and dedicate yourself to what's needed.
The fight training was very extensive, a lot of stretching, a lot of coordination of balance exercises.
One of the toughest guys in the world is Randy Couture - he is the true epitome of what a tough guy is.
It's street theater. You have to make it entertaining so people don't get bored and walk away.
Action comedy, if you can get it right, it is, for me, a particularly brilliant genre. It really is.
I've been unfortunate enough to be working, and recovering from a few injuries now and again.
There's something quite fascinating with crooks and criminals and all things against the law.
I pick up a lot of stuff from them, but I don't think there's any great trick to acting.
People who are in a position of power like to throw their weight around, and that becomes abuse.
I love Tony Jaa. He's one of the best and most capable martial arts stuntmen in the world.
And if people come up and say they like the movies you're in, it's a great compliment.
I don't go in for the high-end gyms with the high-tech equipment and all the fancy stuff.
The action-movie genre is a very difficult one to get satiated in terms of your acting bits.
People love stories about the mafia: 'The Godfather,' 'American Gangster.'
Each director maintains a different personality. Either you get along, or you don't.
You only get one shot in your life, and you might as well push yourself and try things.
Suits change a lot - the wide lapel thing, the fashion trends, the trousers change.
The most frustrating thing about injuries is that they take so bloody long to heal.
People take chances every now and then, and you don't want to disappoint them.
I love people who have a good sense of humor, tell a good story, tell a good joke.
A lot of action movies today seem to have scenes that just lead up to the action.
The oil sequence was about two or three days. It was very cold and was snowing.
Guy Ritchie, he thinks going to drama school is the worst thing in the world.
My father used to run auctions. He's now a singer in the Canary Islands.
I love getting dressed up in a suit because I don't do it all the time.
The thing about the UK is we don't really make that many great movies.
Revenge is a caustic thing. I say, Breathe in, breathe deeply, let it go.
In Hollywood, people get reputations, just rumors that are passed down.
I'm not as big a soccer fan as people might imagine, being British.
Depending on the season, you'll find me outdoors doing an activity.
There's a huge amount of faith and confidence in the stunt team.
It's something I never dreamed I'd be doing, making movies.
Well, I'm used to rubbing shoulders with crooks and criminals.
Jet was very busy. I've been inspired by a lot of his movies.
I've just got a really bad smile. I go for the scowl instead.
I had such a good time working with Paul Feig on 'Spy.'
I've never been one to run around in Speedos on the beach.
When I go to the cinema I watch all different kinds of films.
I thought 'The Bank Job' was a really quality movie.
I've come from nowhere, and I'm not shy to go back.
I suppose that's the European way, dangerous and hairy.
I'm naturally a protective person to those close to me.
I like to meditate. But I get rid of my stress at the gym.
I used to play a lot of racket sports, tennis and squash.
We're trying to make a movie that's interesting.
The best things in life sometimes happen spontaneously.
If you're going to do something, do it with style!
We were diving in caves. It wasn't totally safe.
I'm enthusiastic and ambitious, and I work hard.
I love to get behind the wheel and get competitive.
I'm not a method actor; I hope you know that!
I'm very fussy. I'm very hard to please.
Science fiction I've always been a fan of.
I'm certainly not Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt.
I like crime thrillers. I like heist movies.
You should never assume about someone.
In my misspent youth, I was risky.
I loved 'The Sweeney.'
People like to pigeonhole you.
High risk is high adrenaline.
I love the hip-hop scene.
At least in making an action film, there's always going to be someone who wants to see a car chase. Even if a lot of the people don't like it, there will be a lot of people that do. But bad comedy is just garbage.
If you can have a great story that people can follow the mystery and get the suspense, and then you have those moments of tension and a splash of visual fun, then you kind of get everything. You get your money's worth.
If someone's got a fear of heights, they'd probably say, well, hanging off a helicopter at 3,000 feet above downtown L.A. would be the scariest. For me, that's a day's work, something I was very happy to do.
I like fashion. My mum was a dressmaker, believe it or not, so the consequence of that was that all my clothes were homemade, and I looked like a terrible mess until I was old enough to buy my own. But I love good tailoring.
A lot of the TV shows, they do long hours, and they do a lot of days, and you don't get a lot of time. But the good thing is, if you get one that's made in L.A., or made in a place you want to be, you get to go home every night.
I think we're all sensitive; everyone has a certain way about themselves that people don't like to let their emotions out too often. I think people tend to suppress them and hold them in, so I think there's a bit of that in me.
