On screen, theyre mortal enemies, each playing a racing driver with a reason to despise the other.

Aaron Paul:I like going fast, I like being on the track.

Perhaps more so now.

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Dominic Cooper:Yeah, Ive always loved cars.

I think you grow up wanting to be a racing driver, dont you?

Then it dawns on you that its not going to happen.

What we get to do is the next best thing.

What cars do you drive, and whos the better driver?

AP:I think were both pretty good drivers, right?

DC:Were both pretty good, and we got a lot of training.

I drive an Audi.

AP:Ive got a Shelby [Cobra].

How much behind-the-wheel acting did you actually have to do, and how much was done by stuntmen?

AP:For me, 80 percent of my stuff was behind the wheel in this film.

You did much more.

Thats when they had to use the cage and have the racing driver who sits on top and steers.

Would you have liked to have done that yourself?

DC:Its not the ideal time to be acting when you need that focus and concentration.

When you watch a racing driver, the amount of focus they have in what theyre doing is extreme.

Or, Oh God, Im going to die?

You have the physical sensation.

It really did feel like you were [driving].

Youre feeling the sensation, the sense of momentum.

Youre in the car, youre driving.

You just force yourself to believe that youre the one driving the car.

You forget that theres someone else on top of the car controlling everything.

Dominic, its an open secret that more and more British actors are making it to Hollywood.

Its amazing how many British actors are now in big American movies.

Ten years ago, the British accent may have seemed more exotic.

The movie even jokes about this, with Imogen Poots accent.

Whats the fascination in Hollywood with British actors?

DC:Ive no idea.

Do you think its increased hugely, or has it always been there?

More often than not, we end up as villainous-throw in characters.

I dont know if thats an association with the accent.

There are a lot of British actors playing American heroes, though.

Christian Bales done Batman, Andrew Garfields Spider-Man…

DC:Yeah, I dont know.

I dont think theres a separation I mean, what is it?

Its just an accent.

[Laughs] It steps them way up the ladder.

Thats where Ive been going wrong!

Yeah, thats what Im saying.

Come to the States!

You just start talking, and theyll go, Oh my God.

They just instantly love you.

But I dont think thats why [British actors] are such a huge success.

I think theres just talent all over the planet.

Its a different world were living in right now.

Theres a line in the film about your very blue eyes.

AP:I dont even have blue eyes I have green eyes, but yeah.

Have you found your looks a blessing or a curse?

AP:I have no idea.

Im used to playing the goofy guy, or the skinny drug addict.

This is the first leading man-punch in role Ive ever done.

So Ive no idea whether its a blessing or a curse.

Because I read somewhere that you were almost not considered forBreaking Badbecause you were thought to be too attractive.

Well, let me set the record straight here.

AMC and Sony agreed that they thought I was too clean-cut looking to play a druggie burn-out.

Vince Gilligan, our creator, completely disagreed with that.

So thats how I got the job.

Were you very careful about what you chose to do next?

Then once the show was done I needed to at least attempt to jump into the studio system.

I read a few projects, and this came on my desk.

I was hesitant to even launch the script up, if Im being honest.

He wanted to do a throwback to the films that I really felt started the genre.

He kept mentioningBullittandVanishing Pointand those sorts of films.

I was a huge fan of Steve McQueen and the fact that he did his own driving.

So anyways, I liked the story, and I jumped onto it.

She went into oncoming traffic, our car flipped almost four times.

I didnt even have time to put on a seat belt, because theyd just picked me up.

DC:My God.

AP:Yeah, it was terrifying.

But that hasnt changed my attitude with regards to female drivers.

My wife, for example, is an incredible driver.

Were you injured in that?

AP:Just some cuts and bruises.

But the only two windows that didnt shatter were the two back door windows.

Everything else was just shattered.

It was all in slow-motion.

DC:[Genuinely concerned] What was she doing?

Why did she head into oncoming traffic?

[Laughs]

AP:No!

The car landed on its side.

AP:I definitely buckle up!

Its just a reflex.

I almost died because of a female driver.

InThe Long Way Down,you played alongside Imogen Poots as well.

Now in a completely different movie, completely different surroundings, here you are again.

Is it a family feeling, you experience?

I love her to death.

Shes an incredibly brilliant young actress, so of course I wanted to drag her along with me.

When she decided that she was going to do it, we were all very excited.

Is this the last weve seen of Jesse Pinkman?

Aaron Paul and Dominic Cooper, thank you very much.

Need For Speedis out on the 12th March in UK cinemas.