Playing an icon [superman], you don't try to be an icon because that defeats the purpose. The responsibility attached is enormous, and the realization that it actually really, really matters meant that I wanted to put the most amount of work into representing the character properly.

If you're a good actor, then you channel enough of yourself into the character so that you do get that other thing.

Getting the role like this is such awonderful opportunity... I remember looking in the mirror and going 'I'm superman'.

If I spend all my time being upset about having lost a job, then the next however many auditions I have are going to be useless. So as you're going through the process, you get excited and put your all into it. But you don't get carried away, because until you do the thing, nothing hasn't happened yet. The rest is just talk.

You can train and train until you are blue in the face, but you've got to diet, you've got to have that leanness because if you are not lean, your abs won't show. Of course, the training has to be put in, but then you've to shed all the fat and keep the fat off. And that's how you get an eight pack.

I didn't read comics as a kid - though, obviously, I've read a lot since.

This acting job - it pays very well and you get to live a wonderful lifestyle, but it's something that I love doing, so I want to work with other people who enjoy it as well...