After the delay to the film's release post September 11 it opened at number one in America. Why do you think that was?

I don't think it's very hard to explain, I think you're number one because people think you have the best movie out. We had to postpone the film because there were too many parallels to what was happening in reality on September 11, a terrorist attack in which innocent people lost their lives. That's what the whole movie was about. I think it was a smart thing that we didn't release the movie when it was originally supposed to come out because everyone was in such pain. We tested the movie some time after, in late November, and that indicated this was a movie people would want to go see.

The character you play here is quite different from the invincible heroes which made your name. Is that a conscious decision as you get older?

I think that because I'm older now I can do different kinds of movies than I would have been able to make 20 years ago. In order to play a role like this you have to have children, a family, to really understand what unbelievable pain it must be to see your family killed before your own eyes. I think to act that out was possible for me today because you use your own real life experiences when you act those tough, emotional scenes.

How then do you think the action genre has changed?

I think you have to have a good story with good twists and surround yourself with good actors. Not like in the 80s when it was about who could have the biggest action, who could carry the largest gun, or the longest knife with jagged edges, and all those things. That was what we did then. Action films are still in but now you have to do it in a different way.

Are you bothered about getting older?

Getting older only means getting wiser, and getting better. It's like red wine. There's no obstacle as far as action is concerned. On this film I ran days and days, and jumped around everywhere, and did all the stunts. The only thing I didn't do was the jump off the waterfall, that was a little too far for me. But because of the training I do there is no limit to what I can do.