Writer and actor Steve Carell emerged from the respected Chicago theatre group Second City before landing film roles in Bruce Almighty, Melinda & Melinda and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Forthcoming films include Get Smart, Little Miss Sunshine and animated film Over The Hedge. He also plays the lead in the American version of The Office. In The 40-Year-Old Virgin he plays Andy Stitzer, a man whose early dating setbacks caused him to dismiss his carnal desires. When his work colleagues discover his secret they resolve to help him out.

Did any of your own dating experiences filter into the film?

The whole scene in which I ask the questions in the bookstore, that was directly lifted from advice that my father gave me. On one of my first dates ever I was petrified of talking to this girl, and he suggested that I just ask questions and put all of the impetus on her to talk. It turned out to be great advice. It kind of relieves the tension, so I incorporated that. In terms of the movie that's probably the one decent piece of advice you could use.

You seem to suffer for your art in the scene where you have particular areas of your chest waxed. Was that real?

That was 100% real. I completely subjected myself to an actual waxing on camera. It was done in one take, we set up five cameras, and clearly we only had one shot at it because my hair doesn't grow that quickly. We just figured it would be a funnier way to go, and more excruciating to watch.

Did your co-stars have sympathy for you?

The guys had very little sympathy, unlike the women in the crew who knew what I was getting into. They were telling me to trim down my hair a little bit so it would be easier to pull. They told me to take some painkillers. They had solutions to numb the pain, but I would have none of it. I was very macho. And it hurt so much more than I'd anticipated. I now have this new found respect for women all over the globe who undergo bikini waxing.

What reaction did your nearest and dearest have to your patchy waxing?

My daughter asked me why my chest was smiling at her. I got a strange reaction from my wife - she made me wear a T-shirt around the house for the next few months because she couldn't bear to look at it any more.

Did you find the discussion of male virginity broke a particular taboo?

It's so funny because when we were pitching the movie the people we met just assumed The 40-Year-Old Virgin was a woman. It was a bit of a leap for them. Talking to me they asked who was playing the virgin, and when I said that I was, you saw the gears in their head move, trying to get on to the same page.

The subject of the film does prompt one particular, personal question...

Believe me, the US press asked the same question again and again. It was funny, because prior to doing any interviews I asked my wife about it, because I knew it would come up. She said, "Just don't tell them." I thought that was a novel idea, I should just go with that. But my first experience was not unlike anyone else's. It was awkward and disappointing for both of us. I think 99% of the population can relate to that. It was just what it was, and it was probably more getting it out of the way than anything else. That was sort of the inspiration for the movie itself, at the age of 40 that cloud that might have been looming since his teenage years has expanded into an almost life encompassing thing. I felt that was a good starting off point for the character in a movie that could be both funny and sort of raunchy, but sweet and heartfelt at the same time.

And so you get to lose it all over again, on screen. How was that?

That was very unlike my first time, because for one thing it wasn't real. I'd never kissed a woman on screen before, so the fact that I wrote a movie in which I kiss several women was interesting for my wife, who asked me what my hidden agenda was.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin is released in UK cinemas on Friday 2nd September 2005.