'I don't know why. Maybe it's because I'm not afraid of that side of myself. If I can get to play a monster on the inside I like it a lot. Because a lot of us are monsters on the inside.

'We just pretend we behave and then suddenly a fuse goes and we go nuts. Well, some of us do.

'I still feel my roots are in Holland and I still feel very much part of that culture. If you have a strong sense of identity I don't think you lose it. But travelling so much does change you. You get to see so many differences I guess your perspective does become slightly universal.

'It's lonely. I'm alone most of the time but that's just the way it is. I can't say I'm happy about it but it's part of what I do. When you're not really around very long people don't trust you to be there -- so they don't call you.

'You have to tell your friends that you are still their friends. You have to keep nourishing the people who care for you.

'There is just no discipline in my life. Everything changes constantly. And that makes it hard.

'I have a constant battle with the American Dream. This idea that you always have to make a billion dollars for something to be considered a success is.... well, silly. People recognise me all over the world. Sometimes they are not sure why. And I love that. I like the fact that I'm not instantly known.

'It frees me to try different things as an actor. If you get too big you get locked in.'

But having said that Rutger Hauer is not your captive sort of man.'Each character has a different set of rules and there is not a whole set of logic going on there. But that doesn't mean your instincts are always right. If I interpret them the wrong way I'll still wobble.'

So is it potato farming in Holland or superstardom in Hollywood for Rutger Hauer? He has several projects under consideration but, quite rightly, he suggests we consult Nostradamus. A couple made for each other.

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