Michael Sheen on Passengers, being a digital barkeeper and more… Its clearly a wildly ambitious production, and one were very much looking forward to.

When you take on a role like this are there certain disciplines youve developed to help you?

So for instance today Ive just been making a Manhattan, over and over and over and over again.

Im pretty good at that now!

So you have to get that right.

Just playing around with the idea of what constitutes a robot at this point in the future?

How robotic is he?

How human is he?

How does that work?

What did you decide on how robotic he was?

So the complexities of the relationship between them is totally new for him.

So thats interesting to come into scenes and play with that.

How difficult was it to get you into this contraption you kneel on?

Ah well, I think you should all have a go on it!

Its an interesting thing.

It hadnt even occurred to me that I would have to do that.

I was actually a bit nervous about it.

But even though its not the most comfortable thing, it actually becomes part of the character.

For instance in that last take I didnt actually have to be in the machine, I could stand.

But now I actually dont like standing.

You symbiotically incorporate everything in a scene into your character, so I am now part-machine.

My consciousness as the character includes that machine now!

How much can it move?

Its obviously on a track, but can it move 360 degrees?

It can go really fast!

I have to wear brace thing so I dont go flying around when its really moving.

But I try not to wear it as it impedes what I can actually do in a scene.

It moves, shifts and spins around.

It all has to be programmed by computer beforehand though.

It seems to have behaved very well today.

Has it gone wrong at all?

If it goes wrong Im dead!

So Im hoping it wont go wrong.

Its moving at a swift rate of knots, and theres a camera right there.

A cameraman said to me, if it does head for the camera well just move the camera.

But I hope we dont have to put that to the test!

Will we be seeing you only behind the bar?

Yeah, he can only exist behind the bar so he wont be going anywhere else… we think.

So how would you describe your role?

Is it a robot third wheel?

The limits of what that relationship can be push him towards doing certain other things.

How much is he programmed to be like other bartenders?

Hed be programmed to serve people of different nationalities, in various states of drunkenness.

What makes the ultimate bartender?

Being a confidante, knowing when to engage people, how sympathetic to be, how funny to be.

Hes been programmed with all of that.

Does he have to learn how to deal with it?

Have you ever been a bartender?

No Ive never been a bartender.

Ive spent a fair amount of time in bars, but never actually been a bartender.

I find that role they play interesting.

What makes for a good bartender?

When people go to bars on their own you notice that they want to engage with the bartender.

They want to engage and have a friend to talk to.

Do you tip a robot?

Maybe you give a little bit of WD40?

Everyone has said how much they love the script.

Was that a major reason for you to do the film?

Yes I thought it was the most fantastic story.

Its got an epic scope to it, but its got a real sense of intimacy and accessibility.

Now doing the scenes its very clear that in other peoples hands it might not work as well.

Theyre just such great characters, in both the film and real life.

So thats quite fun to see.

But its largely a visual thing?

Yeah, its part of the baggage you’ve got the option to riff on.

You mentioned that youd spent the day making Manhattans, have you ever made one before?

Nope, I had no idea at all.

But I will be taking you all to the bar later and giving you all a Manhattan.

There are 50 million of them Ive made today!

But the character of Jim only drinks whisky so thats easy to do.

Yeah we saw you pouring a few of them today…

Did it look convincing?

Well thats why I get paid the big bucks!

Any character you play you have to look like you know what youre doing.

And as an android there cant be any wasted movements, hes programmed by computer.

So without doing Mr Roboto movements I do want to bring an elegance and fluidity of motion.

Was he written as English, or was that your choice?

Its never stated in the script.

Lloyd is American inThe Shining.

Funnily enough the actor who plays Lloyd I met in Izzys diner in Los Angeles.

He was sitting next to me and said, youre an actor arent you?

Im an actor as well.

And it was him.

Youre inThe ShiningandBlade Runner.

So if I bump into him again Ill have to say Ive sort of played you now.

Michael Sheen, thank you very much!