Paul Walker Interview at Blockbuster.co.uk

Blockbuster.co.uk spends some time behind the wheel with Fast & Furious star Paul Walker. Marshall Julius reports.

"I was looking forward to going back and hanging out with my friends," says Walker, whose credits since 2001's The Fast and the Furious include Into the Blue (2005), Flags of Our Fathers(2006) and The Death and Life of Bobby Z (2007). "When the studio and Vin asked me to come on board I thought, 'Why not?' My only concern was that I wasn't too sure if there was still an audience for the film, as it had been several years since we did the first one, but the studio was optimistic, and it's been received really well. Overall I'd say interest to see the movie is higher than ever!"

Walker feels a certain kinship, he says, with the undercover agent he plays in Fast & Furious. "I love racing", he declares. "Once it's in your blood, forget about it! And I love speed just as much as my character does - cars, bikes, fast boats. I like anything that has to do with exhilaration, and acceleration!"

Walker is equally enthusiastic about his co-stars. "Vin is a huge movie star. He always knew he would make it and I respect that about him. We both have different approaches towards life and come from two opposite ends of the spectrum, but I think that's precisely why we work and get along so well together."

As for Rodriguez, continues Walker, "I have always loved Michelle's spirit! She beats to her own drum, and Jordana Brewster is a true sweetheart and hasn't changed at all. Like Michelle, you can see that she is beautiful, but what's not so obvious about her - and the rest of them - is what she has going on inside. That's why I feel so strongly about them all."

After working with director Rob Cohen on The Fast and the Furious in 2001, and director John Singleton on 2 Fast 2 Furious in 2003, Walker feels the franchise has remained in good hands, with Fast & Furious being directed by Justin Lin , who also helmed the third instalment, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006).

"John is great, and I love Rob," he reveals. "I call him my movie dad and always go to him for advice. He's a good friend. After skipping the third movie, coming back to the franchise was bittersweet for me because I knew Rob wasn't attached to the project. I'd heard Justin Lin was a great guy, and he did a good job with the third, but I still had some reservations. Eventually, though, I sat down with him, and within 30 minutes reached the conclusion that he was awesome.

"He won me over with his personality - he's such a good guy! He comes from a really humble background and has that 'family first' mentality that I firmly believe in. His family immigrated to America and worked very hard, and he hasn't forgotten it. Justin is the American Dream.

"Beyond all that, as a director, he is fair, considerate and very collaborative. Justin is like the captain of a basketball team - a sport that he loves - who knows how to pass the ball and always figures out the best way to win. And his work ethic is unlike anybody else's! There were days I was worn out, but Justin has a way of maintaining the healthiest attitude. He is one of my favorite people in Hollywood, and I like his energy a lot."

Speaking of energy, Walker says that Fast & Furious is packed with the stuff. "It lives up to its title," he says with a grin. "No doubt about that. And there are insane amounts of action! Best of all, the majority of it was shot without CGI. It was all real driving. Unfortunately I didn't get to do all of the driving myself," adds Walker, wrapping up, "as I guess they couldn't afford me getting hurt, but the day I got to do some stuff with the car I was like a kid in a candy store. That was my favorite day of work."

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