Ashton Kutcher

Just Married

Interviewed by Neil Davey

Star of American sitcom That 70s Show, Ashton Kutcher is a model turned actor whose big break came in teen comedy "Dude, Where's My Car?". He's currently co-starring - with Brittany Murphy - in surprise hit "Just Married", as one half of a young married couple whose relationship falls apart on their honeymoon across Europe.

Your character is quite eccentric. Are you like that in real life?

Tom is closer to me than any other character I've played. If I'm not in control of a situation, I get very anxious and he's the same. A lot of the characters I play are very na茂ve and I don't think I'm like that. [Laughs] And I'm not stupid!

You're best known as a comic actor. Have you always been a bit of a clown?

I don't think I'm a funny person in general. I have had to learn comedy. The head writer on That 70s Show took me to one side - I was convinced I was going to get fired - and explained that there's a trick to comedy. It's like a waltz. There's this 1-2-3, 1-2-3 rhythm. She taught me that to do comedy, you don't need to try and be funny.

A lot of the relationship problems in the film are down to both characters covering up dark secrets...

I find it funny how a secret, that might be easier to just tell, ends up manifesting into a bigger thing, so you end up arguing over the stupidest, most minute points. That's really what first attracted me to the movie.

So it wasn't the promise of a European holiday?

When I was modelling, I had the opportunity to travel all around the world, so I had been to Europe before and I love it. The history is incredible. Americans think that they have a history but it's nothing compared to Europe.

If the gossip columns are to be believed, you and Brittany Murphy are now something of an item...

About 10 months after we finished the movie, we started spending time together. We just really enjoy each other's company. But we have had experiences similar to those in the movie. Brittany has this purse she always carries around with everything in it. There was a lit candle by the bed, we fell asleep and somehow the purse gets into the candle and suddenly there's four foot flames coming off my dresser and I'm naked fire-fighting. Brittany is convinced the movie gods are out to get us.