I’m not good with pickup lines or flirting. I don’t have that kind of self-confidence or natural charisma.

Well, on a personal level, I would never want to take on a character who didn’t have some redeemable qualities. Even the worst of people, such as Michael Scott in The Office [Carell’s character in the US version of the Ricky Gervais sitcom], have some decent human qualities that you can latch onto.

What kind of person would have a real craving for gummy worms?

I look at improvising as a prolonged game of chess. There's an opening gambit with your pawn in a complex game I have with one character, and lots of side games with other characters, and another game with myself - and in each game you make all these tiny, tiny moves that get you to the endgame.

Being an action star is all I had ever hoped to be. I ultimately knew I would be an action star.

The ability to compromise and having the ability to laugh at ourselves is huge and works well for me.

You project a version of yourself to the public to protect and insulate yourself a little bit. Actors come up with a version of themselves in order to protect the real person.