by MATTHEW HAYS

Nick Nolte is only too aware of the irony of his latest casting call. In Clean, he's a mourning father who, after the death of his rocker son from an overdose, takes over the guardianship of his son's child. That's no simple act, as it means Nolte and his wife (played by Martha Henry) must take their grandson away from grieving widow Maggie Cheung. She is a junkie who must prove herself capable of taking on the responsibility of parenthood and go clean - thus the title of the movie. Tabloid readers will get it: Nolte is the clean one this time around.

Nolte and Cheung are brilliant in their roles (Cheung got the best actress award at Cannes last spring), but after playing roles that trade on his addict status, isn't Nolte tired of the brand that's resulted from his off-screen tirades as a drunk with various substance problems? "I guess I could go there," he responds. "I know there isn't an American producer who doesn't know about me, and will think about those things when casting." He changes the topic by telling a funny anecdote about working with Cheung. "After about the fourth day I was sitting with Maggie and I told her that when I'd first met Olivier [Assayas, the director and Cheung's ex-husband], I thought he must be gay. That was the end of that conversation."

Nolte doesn't seem offended by my bringing the addiction thing up. In fact, he seems downright Zen as he sits down to discuss Clean. He's got that movie star quality happening - there's something larger than life about his frame, his presence. His craggy face is bright red, his hair wavy and mad-scientist spiky. Despite his gentle demeanour, at times he looks like he's about to explode. His famous gravelly voice is especially so today, but he's in the midst of the Toronto International Film Fest, where he's become legendary interview material.

Celebrity self-destruction

It was three years ago that Nolte showed up at the festival and granted a number of interviews in his pyjamas. When asked about his attire, Nolte responded frankly that they were comfy, so what the hell. That made for great press in the great uptight burg of Hogtown, where daytime interviews require daytime wear.

As a result, people expect Nolte to act up during interviews. He's well behaved, though, discussing his craft as an actor. It's something he loves, but, sadly, the attention is often taken away from his brilliant turns in films like Cape Fear and turned instead to that scary police photo after he got busted for drunk driving last year. Nolte sighs, but does so with a smile. "I guess I belong in a melodrama."

Why does he think so many actors end up addicts? Is there something in the profession that drives people to drink? The speed with which Nolte responds suggests it's something he's thought about before. "I don't think there's a higher rate of addiction among actors. I think it's about celebrity. Life isn't real for celebrities. Celebrity at its core is very destructive. Because it makes you special. Everything around you, everyone around you, treats you differently. It's very easy to lose yourself. When you lose yourself it's easy not to like yourself. And when that happens, you get self-destructive. For actors, that's easy to do with alcohol or drugs.

"But you know what? Everybody goes through this stuff. Everyone struggles with the qualities we're not supposed to have as humans, but all really have. I have an inferiority complex. I often think I'm not the most wonderful human in the world. I have fears, jealousies. You come into this world and you're a certain person. Much of your life is spent struggling with who and what you are. Suddenly you're middle aged and then you have to struggle with what you've become. We all struggle with this."

Why the red nail?

It all sounds perfectly logical. But then there's the small matter of his fingernail. His pinky fingernail, to be precise. It's painted bright red. I have to inquire, due to the fact that I have one of those inquiring minds that has gotta know. Why did you paint your nail red?

"I just did it for fun. It matches my toenails."

You paint your toenails bright red?

"Yeah. You see, when you get old, in your fifties, your toenails turn all yellow. You know, like your grandpa's toenails. So I paint them bright red. It kills the stuff that makes them yellow. Plus, it gives me an excuse to inspect my feet. To get in touch with them."

After this statement, a publicist begins to drag Nolte away from me.

Clean is now playing

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