D Friday, January 29, 2010 metrolife 15 :60second interview Mel Gibson Mel Gibsons battle against alcoholism was the butt of jokes at this months Golden Globes but the 54-year-old seems to be beating his demons. He returns to acting in Edge Of Darkness (out today) as a detective investigating his daughters death Interview by Tiffany Rose Have you seen me be still for a minute? Stillness is tricky for me. If knitting was compelling enough, Id knit like a maniac What was it about this film that convinced you to take a starring role after seven years? The directing, the producing, the distributing, the marketing the whole nine yards. The impulse to do it again was already there, I just needed the thirst to do it. This was the best vehicle at the time I wanted to do something. I read this and I thought it was really compelling. Did you know the British TV series? Oh yeah, very well. I watched it religiously in the 1980s. The musical score was amazing with Eric Clapton and Michael Kamen. That was very edgy. How do you see your character? Hes been living this humdrum, day- to-day existence; do the best you can, even if you fail, do the best you can. He has a code of ethics he doesnt really step outside of he does things by the book. He feels he didnt do the best he could for his daughter. Now that shes taken away, he feels like hes the ultimate failure as a father he failed to protect her. So he does the next best thing he can, which is to try to make it up to her posthumously. What do you think changes in you when you become a father? Well, you do have the ability to value someone elses life more than yours. Its a good thing. If you have kids, youll know what thats like.You would throw yourself in front of the car. Its like a reflex, its very strange. As a father [Russian singer Oksana Grigorieva gave birth to his eighth child in November] can you imagine not knowing your child? One goes through stages with kids, especially in the teenage years. Nobody is born with a manual. I dont know how to be a parent, do you? Your first role was on Aussie drama The Sullivans, more than 40 years ago. Can you imagine retiring? Have you seen me be still for a minute? Stillness is tricky for me. If knitting was compelling enough, Id knit like a maniac. Maybe Id find stay in the now, you stand a lot more chance of being serene and happy. What planted the acting seed when you were, say, eight or nine? [Laughs] Im not sure. I remember when I was four I used to amuse the s*** out of my family. I used to get a kick out of that. Id do impressions of people Id see on TV. [Mimics President John F Kennedy] Id be talking about coming with me and my brother Bob to the Ambassador for drinks? If JFK was on TV, I was doing him. They were laughing at me. I was a good mimic. How do you see the new generation of actors? They are amazing, these kids. Im blown away by them. At that age, I was just a ham-fisted moron; theyre so refined. Would you like to go back to your twenties? Yeah, boy would I? What would you do? Everything different! I wouldnt be an actor. Are you kidding? F*** no! [Laughs] I would be a chef. knitting like: Woo, drop stitch, pearl, one, knit two... I dont know. Maybe it could be pretty cool. Has your faith helped you through a high profile career with bumps in the road? Oh, it has to. Sometimes thats all youre operating on, blind faith. Thats it... despite appearances, despite events. I mean whats the big answer here? [Laughs] Sometimes youve got to go on sheer faith. If there isnt something bigger and better than whats here, I want out now because this isnt good enough. This aint near good enough. Wow, really? No, this isnt good enough. Please! Can it be better? [Sighs] Thats what Im hoping for. But cant it be better here in this lifetime? Lets hope so. Tomorrow always has the possibility of being a better day, doesnt it? You have to leave the past, not regret it too much and try to live in the present. If you index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html