STAR MAN: 'I'm good at changing nappies'

You seem really happy lately. Could that be love? C'mon, I can't do this... I never have been comfortable talking about my personal life, and it's a little too late to start now. Yes, I'm happy. And I think we should just let it go at that.

Calista said she likes how you look first thing in the morning: 'It's not handsome, it's more cute. Kind of puppy and rumpled.'

Hmmm... She'll pay for that.

She has a two-year-old son, Liam. Is it fun being a dad all over again?

Yeah. But I've never stopped being a dad. I have children of her own age, you know. And grandkids. Plus I have a 13-year old daughter, and a son who is 16. So yes, it's nice to have a baby around. I like babies and Liam is a wonderful, clever little boy.

Do you change nappies?

Oh, I've always done diapers. I'm very, very good at it.

How do you and Calista chill out?

We love to cook and Calista is a great cook. She's modest about it, but we are working our way through some cookbooks and we love Jamie Oliver. And I love to escape to my beautiful ranch in Wyoming.

What do you do on a day off?

We like the simple pleasures - a walk to the park eating an ice- cream cone, having a picnic or making a trip to the zoo. It's great how much you can enjoy talking and laughing.

What do you think about the media circus that surrounds you?

The most bothersome thing is there is no test of truth anymore. Because of the way our laws are, unless you can prove harmful intent, just being wrong, malicious and inaccurate is not actionable. The paparazzi drive me crazy. I hate them.

You don't see yourself as part of a publicity machine?

I'd be very happy to share some of my life, but I don't want my children photographed.

We hear you are super neat, and line up your shoes...

Doesn't everybody line up their shoes?

As a major star, do you have a lot of say in how you play your parts?

Certainly, when I began, people weren't all that eager to hear what I thought. I started to notice I had more clout on set with American Graffiti, when I worked for the first time with George Lucas. He wanted me to get a crew cut, and I suggested a white cowboy hat instead. It was the first time anybody listened to what I was saying and thought it was a good idea.

Why do you think you've been so successful for so long?

With a lot of dumb luck. There are a lot of people as talented as I am who never got the opportunity or had the luck I've had. But I've worked hard, and I think I've made some reasonably good choices. I've had a clear idea of how the business works, and how to take care of myself.

Your Hollywood Homicide co-star Josh Hartnett said he was in awe of you. Does that happen often?

Sometimes. I didn't do all that much to make Josh comfortable. I'd seen his work, and was happy to have the opportunity to work with him. He cares desperately about what he does, but he has a very different approach to it than I do. But I think he'll be around for a long time.

Do you still do carpentry?

Not on a day-to-day basis. I still do it, but I've sort of lost the skills I had when I was working every day.

What can't you do?

I can't sew. But I haven't tried. There's a lot of things I can't do. But I wish I could be better at everything I do, and had time to do some of the things I don't do. I'd like to travel more, and spend more time flying my helicopter.

Do you ever watch movies just for fun?

My kids drag me along to the movies, but I hardly ever go otherwise. Recently my daughter took me to see Shanghai Knights. I like all kinds of comedy. I like quieter, more sophisticated things, but I also really liked Liar, Liar And Dumb and Dumber.

Why did you leave Hollywood for New York?

Because I'd lived there for 20 years, and I had the opportunity to go live somewhere else. I was happy to go. I grew up in cities, and always wanted to live in the country, so we went to Wyoming for a while. Then I moved from there to New York, when my kids were beginning school, and I lived there for 10 years. I don't think there's anything toxic about Hollywood especially, it just depends on who you hang out with.

Any updates on the new Indiana Jones film?

I haven't read the script yet. The process is that George Lucas develops a script with a writer, and hands it to Steven Spielberg. Steven has his couple of weeks with the writer, then I see it and have my own input.

So there is a script?

There is. I don't know whether Sean Connery is in it or not, at this point. We'll start shooting towards the end of the summer of 2004.

Hollywood Homicide is out nationwide on Friday

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