There is only one Hollywood

American actor Laurence Fishburne is now firmly on the Hollywood A-list thanks to the success of The Matrix films, in which he starred alongside Keanu Reeves. But there is much more to the 44-year-old than Morpheus, the father figure he played so memorably in the trio of blockbusters.

Los Angeles-based Fishburne has acted in well over 50 films and also has a string of directing and producing credits to his name. As he told Tabloid in an interview at Dubai International Film Festival, he is now increasingly keen to gain attention as a writer too.

What films that you?ve acted in are you most proud of? Is it The Matrix trilogy?
The King of New York was really satisfying and Othello was as well. Writing my own play, Riff Raff, was really good too. The Matrix was good because I had to get into better shape than I had ever been in my life. Also, it was satisfying to be involved with something that became so popular all over the world.

Do you feel you're still developing as an actor?
I have not really looked at my work with that kind of eye. It was only about 10 years ago that I began to look at my work because the people in my life were pushing me to. I think I am better than I was 20 years ago but I'm not really sure.

As well as acting, you are tending to do more film producing these days. Why is that?
I've been doing quite a lot for the past 10 years. I think it's part of my development. However, acting is my first love and I don't know if I would like to work completely behind the camera.

And you have also turned to writing in recent years.
Again, I've been writing now continuously for 10 years. I would love to be thought of as a really good writer one day. I would like to have great success as a writer and as a director.

Is there anything you want to achieve outside of work?
I would like to become a bit more of an activist and to lend my voice to some humanitarian causes, although I don't want to mention anything specific right now. There are some human beings that need help. I know it sounds naïve, but I would like to help to make the world a better place. I do have a much wider audience as a result of The Matrix and I would like to put that to use.

Does it bother you getting attention in the street?
I still find it strange that people recognise me. I forget that I'm famous. I think I'm the regular guy I look at in the mirror. I've been looking at him for 40 years. It's not a surprise to him that I'm coming round the corner, but for most people it's a shock because they're seeing me out of context. They're used to seeing me on the movie screen. I haven't found a country in a long time where people don't recognise me. Everyone recognises me, but I don't see it as a problem. It's a little weird because it's unnatural, but that's all.

How hard is family life when you are a big movie star?
I have three children and I don't get to see as much of them as I'd like. Their mother and I are divorced. My kids get to travel with me sometimes, that's the nice part. They come to me when I go to places, but I don't get everyday life with them. It's hard to play catch up with them.

You have recently been working on Mission: Impossible III with Tom Cruise. What?s that been like?
We've just finished. Tom is fun. I've known Tom a long time. Tom and me and the rest of the guys like Charlie Sheen and Sean Penn, we're all the same generation. We all know each other well, although I've been working longer than all of them.

Do you regret any of the films you?ve made?
No, because I choose really carefully. I've been in some films that I could say weren't the greatest, but with the majority, no I don't regret them.

What do you think of Dubai?
I arrived two days ago and I think it's amazing.

And from, what you've seen of the film festival, do you think the Arab world will become a major player in world cinema?
I don't think it really matters. You cannot expect filmmakers here in the Arab world to do what Hollywood does to get their credibility. This is never going to be a new Hollywood. There is only one Hollywood and there is only one Bollywood. The film industry here will have to be unique to this place and this culture. If they want to make a film industry here they can do that, even if they don't have the same freedom to express themselves that other people have.