By Veronica Mixon

S cottish actor, Robert Carlyle makes a powerful impression even with a shaved head. It is his dark eyes and bewitching smile that wins the interviewer over as he talks about his latest film, "Ravenous" and his burgeoning popularity. The 38-year-old character actor stunned American audiences with his portrayal of a drunken bully in "Trainspotting" and charmed them as the affable unemployed steel worker who convinces a group of pals to strip for money in the popular comedy, "The Fully Monty."

He first teamed up with Antonia Bird, his "Ravenous" director, when he played a gay man in love with a clergyman in "Priest." He's currently shooting the next installment of the James Bond series. Later this year, he and Emily Watson will star in "Angela's Ashes."

Married just over a year, Carlyle met his wife, Anna, a former makeup artist while shooting an episode of "Cracker" with Robby Coltrane.

The Interview

Did you shave your head for a new role? This is Bond.

Why is James Bond so irresistible? It was very simple one - this one. I use to go see the James Bond films with my father in the 60s and 70s with Connery. To me, he was the only Scottish actor. He sounded like me. So, that link to Connery and Bond. When I went to see Michael Apted and he asked if 'a Bond villain is something you'd fancy doing,' I said absolutely. Because it's been around me my whole life. It's like taking part in some historical piece.

Have you ever met Sean Connery? Yes. He was charming. It was like meeting one of my heroes. I met him at two award ceremonies last year in Britain.

What is the part you play? He's the usually - well, he doesn't want to dominate the world. He wants to blow it up. He's a destruct-o! He has a bullet in his head so he's actually dying from the beginning of the film. It makes an interesting wee twist. He's difficult to kill because he knows he's dying. He doesn't care since he's impervious to pain.

Have you met Pierce, yet? Yes, I've met Pierce. Very charming. Very Bond.

Did anyone ever complain about your accent or say it might be a hindrance? My accent is cleaned up to speak to you and for film. I think they're releasing "My name is Joe" in subtitles. {He smiles.] There's an obvious reason. You don't hear it in the media and you're not exposed to this accent and this dialect. I didn't have too much adjustment to make because when I first left drama school in 1986, they all said to me, you'll never work because I refused to change. [Give the finger to imaginary teachers] Because of the way I spoke, even at drama school they wanted you to speak [a certain way]. I said fuck! I'm not doing that. They wanted you to modify the accent.

When you were filming the Full Monty, did you know what it would turn into? Well, if I'd known that, I'd be giving away free lottery numbers. Who knows? It was a complete shock. No one can predict it.

Any strange encounters with fans of the film? Back in Britain, I don't get that because I've played a variety of different characters and different situations. I played a character called Hamish MacBeth on a TV show that became a cult thing. He was a dope smoking cop but a gentle, very soft guy and that suddenly gave me a middle age mother audience. [They] loved this guy. I did "Trainspotting," which cover the 18 to 20-year-olds. Then, "The Full Monty" which cover everybody. So, there tends to be a quite range.

In "Ravenous," you engage in cannibalism. The whole subject is infinitely fascinating. We've had coffee table discussions about that subject. The main question is would you do it? The reference was from the Andes and the survivors said their attitudes were changed.

What would you do? I think without a doubt, I'd do it. What I believe is that the survival instinct is the most powerful instinct we have. You're always going to try to keep your nose above the water.

Why did you lose the first director of "Ravenous"? Was the tone over the top? When the script first arrived, I felt it was something quite original, something unique. We rehearsed, shot for two weeks, I couldn't have been happier. A pig in shit, as they say. He was right on our wavelength. For the next part of the story, you have to go to Fox. They got rid of the guy. I don't know why. To be honest, I didn't notice any real advert change when it was being made. So, perhaps there was.

You've worked with Antonia Bird before. Is that why you wanted her on this film? Once the director was gone, I was in trouble. I'd never been in that situation. Antonia came to mind for me again because what I had done with Antonia has been mainly ensemble work with men - male actors predominantly. She's got a propencity toward vulnerability especially from real life and she does that very, very well. I thought that would be a very interesting slant on this movie. It could have been done as a gore-o-rama. I thought a female presence in this film might be advantageous. I begged her and went to Fox.

When the two men are caught in the bear trap, it's very homoerotic. Was that the intentional? Yeah, absolutely. After the huge fight and we go into the barn. I could see a lot of silence. There's a lot of dead space there and I've always felt from the word go - why doesn't he just kill this guy? There's something else going on there. I think Ives was attracted to this guy. Ives is completely without any morals and I think he does feel a certain attraction to Boyd and it's interesting that you point that out. And, certainly in that moment, that look between them there's something going on between them in the trap. And, the fact they're entwined together - good and evil.

You don't have any problems with doing gay roles? Well, I don't know. Would you rather play a murder or a gay man? And, you don't a problem about doing nudity or not? No. [Laughs] The Full Monty [nudity] is too much. I wouldn't want to scare the horses.

What was it like doing that scene? Terrifying. The most terrifying thing I've ever done in my life. I wouldn't want to do it no matter how much money they- You're so exposed.

How has becoming an international celebrity effected your life? I came to LA on my own - two days ago. And, I'll leave on my own. I don't have that entourage. Obviously, the one thing you're never ever prepared for as an artists is choice. It's this precious little thing called choice. And, you know, it says that one day you gonna be able to choose what you're going to do. So, when you have that, I always felt, you have to protect that. Like this year, I have four movies coming out this year - none last year. Which tells you where my head was. After "The Full Monty," I was sure so I did "Ravenous," "Plunket and McKallen," "Angela's Ashes" and now, Bond.

Are there any roles you'd say no to? There are certain elements that have to be in place for me to be interested in any piece of work. And, that includes director, the writer and the cast...

Do you think of yourself as fearless as an actor? I don't consider the career consciences - any consciences. Some actors do. They build their whole careers on how they come across and putting themselves away...

Is it more pressure? Yes, definitely. Because know you have it. I just want to remain true to myself. If I can remain true to my own internal social politics, then that's enough for me. To do the best I can do, to learn the best, to work with good people, to work with Antonia again and hopefully, Ken Loach.

edited by Veronica Mixon
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