In the years since starring in a popular Australian soap opera, Neighbours, Guy Pearce has cut a wide swath in the global film industry with roles in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, L.A. Confidential and Memento. In his new film, Traitor, Mr. Pearce plays Roy Clayton, an FBI agent on the hunt for the leaders of an international terrorist group. His investigations point to former U.S. Special Operations officer Samir Horn (Don Cheadle). But as Clayton digs deeper, more questions than answers begin to emerge.

Director Jeffrey Nachmanoff said you're like a chameleon in the sense that you're able to immerse yourself in a role.

Well I think it's always about being inspired. Not every role requires you to physically change a lot, but I feel like I'm drawn to every role differently each time. Sometimes it's just because of a character trait.

With Roy, what drew you to him?

I like the role, and I liked the fact that he wasn't sort of like a cliché FBI guy. I think what drew me was the story of the film, what Don [Cheadle] is experiencing as a character and the clever way it was written. I'm a big fan of Don.

As you mentioned, Roy is not a typical FBI agent. Would you say his character brings humanity to the film?

Yeah. I think that the film sort of brings out the question of complexity. You can be a religious man, which is supposed to be compassionate and sensitive toward other people, and yet be an extremist as Samir can be. Entertainment News Wire