Mel Gibson: 'I think I'm mellowing in my old age'

The rugged Australian film star Mel Gibson, 46, prides himself on being "an ordinary family man who happens to act". He has been at the top of his game for nearly 30 years and his films include the Lethal Weapon series, Braveheart, for which he won an Oscar, Mad Max, The Patriot and What Women Want. He and his wife of 22 years, Robyn, have seven children. In his latest venture, Signs, Gibson plays a farmer plagued by crop circles.

What is your take on crop circles?

I think it's all an elaborate hoax. However, it does seem inexplicable that some of the more intricate designs are created overnight by a bunch of hoons and a truck. Nonetheless I tend to remain a sceptic as far as all that stuff is concerned. Look, if aliens wanted to make contact, wouldn't it be easier to drop in for a cup of tea?

Do you believe in God?

Yes, I do. There had better be something greater than me out there or we are all in trouble! And if there is no God, why am I here? As far as the church goes, every institution is capable of being corrupted. The sex abuse cases that we have seen in the States are a heinous crime against children and I think those people should be really punished hard to ensure that others don't do it. I think the penalties should be big. There's absolutely no excuse for it. It's deplorable. But it still doesn't shake any belief I have that there is a God.

Has there ever been a time in your life when you've seriously doubted your faith?

Oh yeah, sometimes you just chuck a shitty. Your luck runs out. I mean, nothing ever goes according to plan, but the mistake is to think that the journey was not worth it. That's really a lack of humility. You have to be prepared to accept that most of life is out of your hands. Sadly I'm not very good at humility – I've always had a struggle there. But I don't think I've ever had a serious crisis of faith.

So, are you a believer in fate?

I am a big believer in pre-ordination. Yeah, you're supposed to be where you end up somehow. I don't think there's a lot of happy coincidences. I just think it appears that way. I don't think we are calling the shots. You can tie your brain in knots with all this stuff.

I read that you took your daughter to a spa for a touch of pampering on her 21st birthday. Is that true?

Yes. We had mud baths, the works.

How important is that bonding experience with your daughter?

Oh, very important. I think daughters and fathers have a really special connection. Often fathers forget just how important that is. I'm thick about this kind of stuff, I didn't realise how important I was in her life and in her formation until she became 13 or 14. I always thought, "Oh her mother will take care of that!" But it's not the case – a father really has to be pro-active. I mean, I am the first man she knows. She has to form some sort of opinion of the opposite sex and has to understand them for her own sake, for her own self-esteem – for everything, you know. She needs that time. All kids need that time with their parents – sons too, but that's a different thing altogether. And as she was the oldest, it was easy to make mistakes, because it was uncharted waters. I have learnt a lot about parenting as I have gone along.

Have your children shown any signs of wanting to go into the business?

Yes, they horse around with video cameras and make little films and stuff. It is inevitable really.

You spend months away from home on film sets, how do you make time for your family?

Most of the time I'm actually not that far away. I try to work my schedule around the kids' schooling, so I am more at home during the summer holidays. I do spend a lot of time on location, but it's not like I'm out of sight all the time, and I try to keep in contact with my family as much as possible. The older I've got, the more I've realised how important it is to be around. If you're away, things deteriorate rapidly.

You are known for your pranks on film sets. Has anyone ever played one on you?

Yeah, Madeleine Stowe stole my clothes when we were shooting We Were Soldiers. I had just shot a scene and I knew I had left my soldier's uniform in my trailer. But it was gone. I was pretty miffed about it. The next thing I see is Madeleine wearing my clothes! But I didn't end up playing a revenge trick on her. I think I'm mellowing in my old age.

You've been a film star for nearly 30 years now. Do you ever get used to fame?

It's bizarre. You would think I'd be used to it by now, but it seems to get stranger as I've grown older. But it's really good at the moment, it's starting to ease up a little – I've started to drop back, and I'll drop back further yet.

What do you mean drop back?

Well, I'm far less zealous about career stuff. I just can't be bothered to make even half the effort that they tell you it takes. I've become a little more jaded.

You always play the hero. Can you play a bad guy?

I hope so. But admittedly most stories I've told are inspirational in some form and the lead character has to have some kind of charm. I did do a film a few years ago that was kind of a fantasy, called Payback, where the guy was plain bad. He went around shooting people indiscriminately. He was mean, angry and greedy. But most stories involve heroes, which is why stories have always been told.

Have you ever thought about getting out of showbiz altogether?

Well, I'm getting a little old. I love the game, but I think I'd like to focus more on directing and producing. Or maybe I should just get in front of the camera with something really good.

After making What Women Want, do you know more about the opposite sex?

No, I don't know anything! Women remain a mystery to me.

'Signs' is released on Friday