Colin Farrell: "Phones" It In

He's hot, he's naughty and he's everywhere. We hear about this talented Irish actor daily. Is he having a baby with a model? Is he thrown out of a club? Has he been seeing Britney on the side? Who really knows but we do know that he's a hard working and very busy actor. Ever since he caught attention as a solider in Tigerland, Farrell has been climbing the Hollywood success ladder steadily and most recently with Al Pacino in The Recruit and as the punky Bullseye in Daredevil with Affleck.

A couple of years ago Farrell shot a film about a publicist trapped in a New York phone booth by a nutty sniper who forces him to reveal all his secrets. When America's own sniper story died down, Phone Booth was finally released. Colin spills about the arduous task of starring in the film and gives us a little insight into what makes him tick.

TeenHollywood: This is an amazing performance. So intense for you. You shot it in twelve days. How did you deal?

Colin: I hit it fairly hard because I was under the lash. I had a load of drinks at night because I had to unwind. My head was nearly destroyed. There was nearly gray matter pouring out of my ears at the end of every day. I nearly wanted to cry at the end. It was the toughest job I ever took by a mile just to be in that phone booth. There wasn't a relaxed moment in the film after the first few minutes walking down the street.

TeenHollywood: With multiple cameras going it was like one long scene. Was it more like doing a play then?

Colin: Yes, absolutely. We rehearsed for two weeks and read and talked through the script. Anything we found confusing we tried to sort out, then we went and shot in continuity so the whole thing was like a dream to me and it was over like that. Usually, on a film, you're there for three or four months. This was twelve f***ing days. It was so fast. It was two years ago now.

TeenHollywood: You seem to easily do American accents; Bronx in this case.

Colin: It boils down to I grew up on American television, T.J. Hooker, Chips, A-Team, you name it, I grew up watching it. I have American sounds in my ear all the time. Americans try to do an Irish accent and you grew up with [Irish accent] "Ah, have a look at me Lucky Charms'. It's impossible. It's a bit tricky but I don't think I've done it justice once. People tell me I'm great but I don't want to hear it. I f***ing don't think I've done it right. But it's another part of the gig and another angle into the character. Like Texan is a bit lazier and New York has a bit more of this. It's a tap in for the character as well.

TeenHollywood: Kiefer Sutherland was saying that confessing and getting things off your chest might be a liberating thing. Having gone through it in the film, do you think so?

Colin: Well, I hope every confession I do in the film had nothing to do with me. I hope I'm not that ass****. But, there's lot to be said for a good chat when you have a friend or lover or family member and you're having problems and you spit it out. This was the ultimate confession. The ultimate cathartic splurge of self-realization. This fella was under the gun literally and he had no choice and had to spit it out. So in that sense, for Stu, it might be good later in life. He might be a good dad or husband. The shooter, basically does him a big favor. Not a disservice at all. He's not evil, Stu, but he's on the precipice of that. That's why it's good when he [Kiefer's character] comes out and says, remember, I'll be watching you.

TeenHollywood: Have you met guys like this?

Colin: Yeah. But they've served me a burger at Burger King or they've been in a bank working. You can meet bastard publicists, agents, actors, everything. A bastard is a bastard whatever job he has. But it was a great backdrop because his inclination is to be selfish, self-loving and narcissistic as he is was completely fed. At the end of the day he's a better fella. He needs a wake-up call.

TeenHollywood: Did you get sick of using the phone during this film?

Colin: Are you joking me? Yeah.

TeenHollywood: Did being in that confined space help your performance?

Colin: Yeah, totally. It was so frustrating. It really did help though. I had such nervous tension on that gig. I was always boiling and I used to pace outside the booth. The first A.D. would pick up a megaphone and say 'you got Stu?' I go in, close the door and pick up the phone. That was the gig, nine to five.

TeenHollywood: This will be one more step up the ladder for you. Is it getting harder to live with all the attention you are getting?

Colin: Not really because I still live at home [Dublin], you know. I'm very lucky coming from where I come from. I have a totally different life. I doesn't matter to anyone back home if I have eight million dollars for a film and I go to a premiere and am (sleeping with) some lovely looking girl. It doesn't matter. They know what are the important things in life.. It's being good and bold. My life, from the outside, if you looked in would seem to have changed but, on the inside, it hasn't. I'm doing the same job, just with more money and bigger names.

TeenHollywood: Did you learn anything about the fame game from Tom Cruise or Pacino?

Colin: Tom is the loveliest fella. The most affable, loveliest man. He has so much respect for every human being he meets and I've learned things from watching him on the set but it's hard to pinpoint what you learn from people but you learn from everyone. Like Bruce [Willis] you learn to learn your lines. Bruce is dead on but he couldn't remember a line to save his life on Hart's War. I teased him and said you better go home and get an early night. You have a word to learn tomorrow. He'd look up and go f you, you Irish prick.. all in good fun. What I learned from Pacino, was after 40 years of being an amazing actor and icon, he's well-read and so smart, he's still hungry to get it right and he's still pulling his hair out because he doesn't know if he got it right. He's still not sleeping at night because he loves his job as much as he does. That was a huge lesson for me. I could get lazy, just wait for the limo and not give a s*** but I love my job. Pacino was brilliant.

TeenHollywood: So would you have the same enthusiasm for Daredevil as for this?

Colin: No because I wouldn't have the passion with the character. But I'd work as hard. Bullseye is one dimensional, a killer, mercenary. You work your hardest at it but you don't go on the emotional journey I went on in Phone Booth. There's no replacing that.

TeenHollywood: What's the difference between Hollywood and Dublin actors?

Colin: I've worked with actors in television at home before anyone ever heard my name and I've worked with fellas who have put four kids through college by doing theater and a bit part in television. That's the deal. I'm 26 and I have a limo. There are guys who have done 300 plays 25 parts in t.v. and film. That's life. That's important and real. That's providing because you love. They wouldn't take any of my s***.

TeenHollywood: Did you ever expect to come as far as you have?

Colin: No, no. You'd leave yourself open for a big fall every day if you were looking for that because you wouldn't get it the next day. I always hope I get a call back, hope I get the part each gig. It gets harder but it is important. I'm chasing something I'll never catch with this job but that's okay. I don't want to catch it. It's okay.

TeenHollywood: Do you see yourself as a family man some day?

Colin: Yeah, some day. Are you jokin' me. I'll fill this table with kids.

TeenHollywood: Do you laugh when you see all the gossip?

Colin: Yeah, my sister bought this National Enquirer thing a few weeks ago. It said that in a Von's [supermarket] in Los Angeles, everyone was pissed because I kept a line of people waiting because I was looking for my food stamps. That's what it said. It was hilarious. You have to have a laugh.

TeenHollywood: How hard is it to be on t.v. and not curse?

Colin: I have to think. I have to actually go don't curse, don't curse. I don't curse in a violent way. It's just the way I talk.