With his acting talents in such demand, Clive admits it's hard having to spend lengthy periods away from his family. "The most difficult thing for me is being away from them and home so much, but that's the price you pay," he says. "We've been lucky lately. Arthur was shot in Ireland, so that's close, and it was during the summer holiday last year so they could all come out and spend time with me on set. Then Closer was shot in London, so it's worked out great.

"I haven't yet had to decide whether or not to do a movie that'll mean being away form them for three or four months. I'm sure that will come, but I'll decide what to do then," he says. "But it has become more and more about spending time with the kids. That has to be the main priority when I'm home. I do like going to the football. I'm a huge Liverpool fan, so I go to the games whenever I can, but basically I like to stay home with the kids and the family."

"Closer was like a gift for me. Great writing, great actors, great director," says Clive, referring to Mike Nichols.

"Jude's fantastic, and it's brilliant casting him in his role. As for Julia, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I mean, she's probably the most famous actress in the world and you hear all this stuff and read all these things, but she couldn't have been nicer to work with. She was so easy, and there was no diva attitude at all, no big entourage of assistants or publicists. I really had a great time with her."

"I like to do everything. Big movies, small movies, it's all the same process for me. The only difference is there's a lot more hanging around and waiting on a huge film like Arthur, as there's more stunts and stuff to organise. I haven't done any theatre in a while, but I'm beginning to feel the itch again," he says.

Clive also has no qualms about turning 40 later this year. "It doesn't worry me at all. Life's great. I've got a fantastic family, great work and opportunities, so I feel it's the best period of my life so far," he says with a simle.

He may have lots of opportunities ahead of him with film and theatre projects beckoning but he says his greatest ambition at this stage of his life would be to make a film that his children can watch. "Now I understand that impulse where actors go, 'Now I want to make a film my kids can see.' I always thought, 'God, that's so sentimental.' But now I completely get it, and I'd definitely do one just for them as I love them and would do anything for them." he says.

"They will want to see King Arthur. It'll be (assuming a whiny tone) 'Why can't I see it? Oh please!' But it's just too scary and graphic for them.

Hannah's so interested in it already. Eve doesn't lnow what's going on, but Hannah gets other kids talking to her about me at school. They're telling her things like, 'We've seen your dad in movies!'

Thanks, kireipan