There are obviously insights into the character of Colonel Hodges in the script, but there’s a lot of history, there’s a lot to get over in his personality. How do you go about doing that?

Well Hayes Hodges is a fellow with little self-esteem and for good reason, he is essentially a failure at life. But on behalf of a friend he finally has to reach within himself to find the strength to do something heroic. It was an interesting set of problems for an actor [...] I know some people who lack self-esteem, I’m sure you do too. Well it’s my job to understand those people and to recreate that.

From the outside looking in, particularly when the battle scenes are up on the screen, it looks like it must be the best fun to do. In reality, is it really hard work or is it great fun to do?

Acting is fun for me and it doesn’t really matter how, whether it’s hard work or easy work, it’s always fun.

To get into character for that part of your role in Vietnam, did you have to spend a lot of time prepping?

We made a brief study of small arms combat tactics, taking turns ambushing one another and what it amounted to basically, was learning how to use the weapons and wearing clothes.

What is it about military, particularly US military movies, that people like do you think?

If military movies were automatically successful we'd make nothing but military movies. But seriously, patriotism is one thing that all Americans have in common.