You’re in such good shape in this movie. What was the training like?
In terms of the training? It changed a lot. The training schedules were put together by a guy called Logan Hood he’s an ex-Navy seal who’s pretty intense. The good thing about his sessions is nothing was ever repeated.
We’d hawk back to the old starlets of exercise, using everything that uses your own body weight and the very basic things like pull-ups and pushups and squats and dead lifts, power planes, that kind of thing, sprints, explosive power stuff.
Every day?
Six days a week, yeah.
For how long per day?
Not that long, actually. 40 minutes, 45 minutes, sometimes an hour.
What kind of diet did you have during your shoot?
It was lots of protein, lots of vegetables, fruit, nuts, berries, a little bit of dairy, no refined carbohydrates, no pasta, no bread, no sugar, no juices.
Did you find that difficult?
It makes me very miserable. But you know, it’s in for a penny, in for a pound. You do it for a reason and it’s part of the job, so it’s nice to have that focus and dedication.
Where you up early to train?
Yes, we used to get up at 5, and hit the running machine which is no fun. Then we’d do an hour and then get ready and start the film. It’s amazing how much energy you get once you get into the routine.
What about the stunts in the movie? Any bruises?
Yeah, you do an extra movie, I mean it’s usually the fight scenes that you get accustomed to having an injury, and nothing too bad on this one. No broken bones, no strained joints. Just a few bruised muscles and that was about it.
Is there a stunt that blew you away that you weren’t allowed to do that you wanted to do?
Yeah, some of the bigger set pieces, some of the big collisions, you want to try and be in the driver’s seat for, but the production doesn’t allow it. It’s the studio’s nightmare to have me in a big car crash.
How fast did you go in the car?
About 160.
Well, like you said you had a couple of times to be scared because you did your own driving in the movie.
Yeah, it was quite dangerous at one time because of the iron girders that were coming out of the ground. If you hit one of those at high speed, they don’t move anywhere and it’s just curtains. It’s, very dangerous.
But you wouldn’t have done it if you didn’t know you could pull it off
Sure. I used to ace my friends as kids. When it snowed we used to get into a car park and do hand brake turns. We used to learn to drive in icy conditions and throw the car around and everything. I've been lucky enough to go to driving school and have extensive lessons.
I’ve put in many hours and you build up a confidence and there’s no substitute for that experience. I feel it’s one of the reasons that Paul wanted me to be one of the drivers.
What’s the most impressive car stunt you can pull then?
I can do a flying 360. You drive at about 90 miles an hour, and then you pull on the hand brake. It stops and you go into a 90-degree spin. It hits the 180, you flip the wheel the other way, turn the front wheel so it goes that way, and then you keep it going in second gear.
How many speeding tickets have you had?
Recently, not many. But as a kid, a lot. I’ve learned my lesson with the law.
Are there other directors you’d like to work with?
Many. Scorsese is one of them, and Michael Mann.
Would you be willing to skip the action to move from there?
Absolutely. Listen, the kind of films that they make are always interesting. Just to work with those people would be a massive privilege.
I loved Crank so I look forward to Crank 2. Can you talk a little bit about that? And also about Transporter 3
.Transporter 3? That’s another one in the bag. So I’m a man of many sequels. I finished Crank 2 not so long ago, it’s pretty crazy.
The first one was great.
Yeah, it’s quite mad. It’s everything you’d expect it to be with Neveldine and Taylor at the helm. They’re lunatics.
Driving is a passion of yours. What about the other passions that we haven’t seen yet from you on the screen?
I’m interested in snowboarding and scuba diving. My two indulgences.
Where’d you learn to scuba?
I learned years and years ago and so every time I get an opportunity, I certainly jump in. I’ve been to a few places like Seychelles and Fiji. Those tropical sort of waters are the best.
Can you talk about the actor/director relationship with Paul?
He’s a very laidback person and he works very slowly and meticulously and I like the atmosphere he brings. And it’s very, very relaxed.
When you feel stressed, how do you de-stress? Just by doing action or do you meditate?
I like to meditate. But I get rid of my stress at the gym.
Of all the films you've made since you've come to L.A., what is your favorite?
I don’t have any favorites. They all have their certain appeal. I’ve had some good experiences and bad ones. Death Race happens to be a good one.
Joan Allen said that you’re kind of tough when you’re on the screen but in real life you’re actually a little bit of a softie. Would you agree?
I suppose I’d have to agree.
How would you describe the movie?
I plan Jensen Aimes. I think Ian McShane coined it rather well the other day. He said it’s Mad Max, it’s in the future, it’s a race, it’s a death race, and it’s Joan Allen swearing. (laughter) I think he gets gold for that.
Did you enjoy the Bourne trilogy?
I loved the Bourne trilogy. I think it’s great. That’s the kind of stuff I'm interested in doing myself at this point. I love those intellectual action movies. They’re inspirational. I’ve been a big fan of the Bourne movies. I could watch them time and time again.
Do you still have hope that one day you will be able to return to the UK or is America your home how?
I’d love to go home. I’d get great enjoyment if I could make films in the UK. I recently did a movie with Roger Donaldson called The Bank Job and it was great to go and work back on home turf.
I haven’t done a movie there since Lock, Stock and Snatch. I love working with the English crews, eating food on the double decker buses and that kind of stuff.
What do you miss, living here?
What do I miss? I miss my friends. I miss the company that you get. Friends, and the food that they keep.
Death Race is released on DVD 9th February