What you really get is a different kind of story entirely, with the kids and family. To me what was most interesting is not this guy [I play] but the boy [his eldest son, played by Heath Ledger] who is the patriot.

With seven kids, acting the parent isn't a stretch for you.

No. In fact, a lot of people who aren't parents — and some parents — go too hard with the whole thing. They try to demonstrate too much how they love their kids and it's not like that. There's normal and there's phony.

How does it feel to become a father again at 44?

I thought we were finished. The next youngest is 10 years old, and it was, "Hey, we've done great." Then it was, "Whoa, oh man, can we start this again? We're not exactly spring chickens anymore." But it's been the greatest thing. The little guy is really something.



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