The action movie is full with Diesel

HE may be a huge action hero, but Vin Diesel has been getting in touch with his inner softie since he became a dad four months ago.

The 41-year-old welcomed baby daughter with model girlfriend Paloma Jimenez in April and says he is now more than happy to leave his macho image on the big screen.

"Now that I'm a father, I might say, I'll leave the stunts to the stuntmen," he says, laughing.

"I'm not fearless, because I haven't been a thrill-seeker in my normal life since I started doing action movies. I used to ride my motorcycle at 70 miles per hour, which is the quickest way to die.

"Before I did action movies, I would say, 'Let's jump out of a plane' but now I think, 'Nah, I have to do this stunt next week, which will have the same sort of effect'.

"I live my nine lives on screen," he adds. "I don't think about how dangerous or perilous something is, just how my character is."

Not only has fatherhood made Diesel more cautious, it's also changed his perspective on life.

"I have no f***ing idea what my life is about. I pulled my hair out thinking about it," he says, pointing to his shaven head.

"But you have a little baby and your purpose becomes clear. Fatherhood is unbelievable. It makes me want to be a better person. It becomes the only and absolutely clear thing in your life. I mean, you love work and have a passion for it, but you have a child and there's no mystery about your purpose any more."

The action star – whose real name is Mark Sinclair Vincent – adds, "The clearest way you commit to the future is by having a child."

One thing that won't be changing anytime soon, however, is his choice of roles.

Diesel, who became an action superstar thanks to roles in flicks like xXx, The Fast And The Furious and The Chronicles Of Riddick, reckons he won't be turning his hand to children's films yet.

In fact, his upcoming projects include reprising his role as Dominic Toretto in the fourth installment of The Fast And The Furious, and playing conqueror Hannibal Barca, both of which his daughter won't be able to see until she gets older.

"Well, I did The Iron Giant ten years ago to prepare for my child," he says, referring to his voice role in the animated film, adding that it was his part in The Pacifier, where he plays a tough-man babysitter, that actually kicked off his paternal urges.

"That's how the whole damn thing started," he recalls with a grin. "You work with those babies too long, and then I said, 'It is time'." However, fans of Diesel's action movies won't be disappointed with his next role in Babylon AD.

The actor plays Toorop, a war veteran-turned-mercenary who escorts a woman carrying a precious organism. The film also stars Michelle Yeoh and newcomer Melanie Thierry.

"Here is the story of a guy who is essentially at the end of his rope," Diesel explains.

"He is a war veteran who has both committed and witnessed such horrible atrocities that he has completely given up on life, on love, on hope and has become a shell. Toorop has a very strong personal code and I was attracted to that part of his character. I think too often people have a perception that just because a character acts immorally that they do not actually have a moral compass, but that is not the case.

"Toorop lives by his own personal codes of conduct, but allows the lines to blur in order to get his job done. He uses physical force in order to effectuate his professional needs, but in his heart he is a generous man."

Diesel might be known as a man of action but he says he enjoys the mental challenge of bringing his characters to life.

"I'm drawn to complex characters who have many different layers. I'm clearly drawn to characters with an inner code," he says.

"Maybe it's important for me to play these characters with inner honour subconsciously. At the root of it, maybe there's good in everybody. I'm attracted to nefarious characters who show good during the journey – I like to find another side to them. What do you expect? I'm the son of an idealist."

Like many of his previous films, Babylon AD is packed with full-blown action – from combat scenes to big blasts.

"There were so many enjoyable moments. I had so much fun flying through the air on a snowmobile off the mountain peaks in Sweden. That's just so damn cool," he says.

Babylon AD is released today