Tell me about the role you play. I believe you were initially reluctant to take it on...

Well, it's a very difficult part, it's about this guy who's a pederast, and when I read the script initially, it wasn't going to quite work, I didn't think. And then people kept saying this isn't necessarily a good career move. But then all the reasons for not doing the film became the reasons for doing the film, because it's challenging and a very unusual character. It's a character we haven't really seen much in cinema. I thought I could bring it off. It was tough and it was hard, because I didn't know if it would work and also because it's dealing with such a taboo subject.

Let's talk about some of the other movies you've managed to slot in. We're going to see you in "Ring", which has already been a big hit in the States, and I'm looking forward to "X Men 2". Who do you play in that?

I play Stryker... I play the bad, bad, bad guy and he's human. He's not a mutant - he's the only one who's not a mutant. I present the human face. It's been a roller coaster, it's been a blast. We only just wrapped on this last week in Canada. We ended with me chained to a wall waiting for a dam to burst - oh I shouldn't say that! But I'm OK.

That's as far removed from the working experience on "L.I.E. " as you could possibly get...

But that to me is what it's all about, that's why I do it. I'm having the time of my life in my 50s, it's great. Having done theatre and a variety of other things in the past - it's all paying off. The only thing I ask is that a part has a beginning, a middle, and an end. It doesn't matter how big or small it is, so long as I can make something of it. Actually Bryan Singer cast me because of "L.I.E.". If I hadn't done "L.I.E.", Bryan would never have cast me as Stryker.