The 5-minute Interview: Andrew Garfield, actor

'I resent it when people tell me, this is your time'

'There is no such thing as the perfect age. Time isn't a straight line; it's spherical' (PA)

Listed as one of Variety's 10 actors to watch in 2007, Andrew Garfield, 24, is among Britain's rising film stars, after success in 'Boy A', 'Lion for Lambs' and 'The Other Boleyn Girl'. The DVD of 'Lion for Lambs' is out next week. The British Academy Television Awards are on Sunday 20 April, BBC One

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...

Stressing out about my last two days of filming. I get nervous, but I know it's fun so I just try to relax.

A phrase I use far too often...

I don't know. I repeat myself a lot.

I wish people would take more notice of...

Each other.

The most surprising thing that happened to me was...

Getting the jobs and working with all these people. Situations like finding yourself at dinner with Tom Waits, Terry Gilliam and Colin Farrell.

A common misperception of me is...

I am not in the public eye; I mean, I'm not in Heat magazine. Who's to say? Everyone has the potential to be everything. I've been called a prick before, when I was getting lucky and someone commented on it.

I am not a politician but...

Politics needs more artists. Too many politicians are focused on their careers, not their beliefs.

I'm good at...

Physical things, though sometimes they're a bit silly like Guitar Heroes, that's a Playstation game, or hackey sack, silly physical things. I'm good at self-deprecation... I think.

I'm very bad at...

Controlling my emotions. I fly off the handle quite quickly. I have extreme emotions, really highs and lows.

The ideal night out is...

Leaving my brain at home, taking instinct with me and at some point there would be bowling involved. That's another thing I am good at. Also some incarnation of old dancing, like swing. Then finishing with a stupid Eighties movie at home.

In moments of weakness I...

Go on Facebook.

You know me as an actor but in truer life I'd have been...

A basketball player or in the hip hop group Tribe Called Quest.

The best age to be is...

There is no such thing as the perfect age. Time isn't a straight line; it's spherical. We have periods when we're happy and times when we're not. I resent it when someone tells me, 'this is your time'.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this...

I don't have a philosophy. Be in the moment, having each moment. Each moment can be beautiful. Well, whatever. I am only 24, so who knows.

Henry Palmer