British actor Clive Owen says he spends time with his children as much as possible when not working because he misses them so much during filming.
The Sin City star also spoke about what he looks for in roles, while promoting his latest film at a US comic book convention.
He travelled from his London home to the San Diego Convention Centre to talk about his new movie: the pulpy, gun-filled Shoot ’Em Up, in cinemas on September 7.
Owen, 42, plays Mr Smith, an angry anti-hero who shoots every type of weapon in every way imaginable as he battles to protect a newborn baby from the ’bad guy’, played by Paul Giamatti.
Owen’s character is aided by a prostitute (Monica Bellucci), with whom he shares a tenderly damaged love affair.
The actor, who also starred in Closer with Jude Law, said the script was “probably the wildest, freshest script I’ve read in years”.
“I like the fact that it unashamedly says from the outset: don’t take this too seriously,” he said.
Owen, who did most of his own stunts for the film, said he had to train hard for the challenge set by writer-director Michael Davis.
He said: “I was in a harness for 10 days being spun around and flung and all that stuff at the end. It was physically demanding for sure.”
In choosing roles, Owen said he is not interested in “route one, everything very obvious, the good guy and he’s clearly good”.
“I’m always into sort of a bit of conflict,” he said. “And I think there’s something hugely attractive about playing a guy like this because the bottom line is he’s the cool guy with no name.”
But out of work, his two daughters, aged eight and 10, are his priority.
“I miss them so badly when I have to go and shoot,” he said. “It becomes very precious just hanging with them, spending time with them, because it costs when you have to go off and make a movie.”