D Tuesday, January 26, 2010 metrolife 15 Picture:Getty :60second interview Matt Dillon Matt Dillon, 45, made his first film, Over The Edge, at 14. By 18 he was the James Dean of his day, starring in Rumble Fish and The Outsiders. Crash earned him a 2004 Oscar nomination. In new film Armored, out today, hes an armoured truck driver who takes the wrong road Interview by Lesley OToole I had a friend stay with me who loved to walk around my place buck naked. The trouble was, he was a rotund guy Is it true you were really good friends with The Clash? It is. I was a huge fan and [photographer] Annie Leibovitz got me tickets to see them when they played on Saturday Night Live. We became friends. Youve been acting since you were a teenager. Did you ever want to be a rock star? Its funny. I have a musician friend who always says: I didnt want to be a drummer, I wanted to be a magician. But I was really good at drumming and the next thing I knew I was a drummer. I was always really good at drumming but the next thing I knew I was an actor. So you never wanted to act? Not at all. If I hadnt got Over The Edge, I dont think I wouldve thought about it. Were all actors in a way. Sometimes you have to act as if you like someones blouse or something. How did you get that first film? I was just one of a number of kids at my school asked to audition for it. Immediately when I read it, I thought the character was amazing. If it wasnt for that and the fact that I got the role, I wouldnt be here now. Armored reunites you with your Rumble Fish co-star Laurence Fishburne. Were you in touch? We made Rumble Fish in 1982, more than a quarter of a century ago! We dont hang out all the time but I consider him a friend. We hit it off on Rumble Fish and hung out quite a bit. Why didnt you work together again earlier? Its funny you ask there was one other thing we did together. I ran into Mick Jones on the street in New York in about 1986. The Clash had broken up and he had his new band, Big Audio Dynamite. He said: I want you and Fishburne to do a skit on the phone. So we did. Its on a track called Dial A Hitman. Have you ever treated a friend badly like you do in the film? No but Ive had awkward situations. I had a friend stay with me once who will work out. I was given an amulet by two girls who worked on City Of Ghosts. The position of the Buddhas hands is supposed to protect me from fear. Fear is the enemy. I still wear it. Youve always been known as a sex symbol. Yeah, I used to hate that. Now I love it. You look great for your age. Im lucky. I got my mothers genes. But also I think the secret is never totally letting yourself go. Im serious. Are you one of those faddy Hollywood types who eats clean? No. I dont watch my diet but I work out and do things that interest me, that give me happiness. You dont feature in the tabloids much. Thats because I havent had many high-profile relationships. Er, wasnt Cameron Diaz high profile (they dated for three years)? I mean lately. But I dont hide out. If you build a wall around yourself it draws people to invade it. was a real nature boy. He loved to walk around my place buck naked. The trouble was, he was a rotund guy, really heavy. This didnt go over too well with my girlfriend. She thought it was disgusting so I asked him to leave. Do you believe in karma? Did you see the film I directed, City Of Ghosts? I had a line in there: I got enough bad karma to last me six lifetimes. I think karma plays out in our lifetime. How do I know what happens in the next life? Thats how I see it. You reap what you sow. You think theres a next life? Im open to it. But I dont want to get into theological stuff because I dont have all the answers. I do think we have control over karma though. Its not just about waiting for the afterlife. What scares you? Not changing. Getting stuck in a rut. Its important to grow and face things that scare you. How do you face them? With faith. I try to remind myself things index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html