NEW YORK , Sept. 10 (UPI) -- British actor Clive Owen says he craves diversity and originality when it comes to his film projects.
Owen's wide-ranging taste is evident this week as he is seen playing both the angriest man in the world in "Shoot 'Em Up," in theaters now, and romantic Sir Walter Raleigh in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age," screening at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Explaining that he seeks out original scripts, he said: "That is why I did ('Shoot 'Em Up.') That's why I did 'Children of Men.'
"It's hard to come across original films," he told reporters in New York. "I read ('Shoot 'Em Up') and said, this is an action movie with a really subversive, crazy, irreverent wit and it was fresh. It was its originality that made me want to do it."
Owen said he is also drawn to complex characters who are neither clear-cut heroes or villains.
"Playing a 100 percent good guy, a 100 percent bad guy never really appealed to me," he said. "It's a bit boring for me to play.... For me, acting is never about playing one thing. It's only interesting if there is... some kind of conflict, some kind of sub-text, really."
