He might be known for his dry one-liners but Bruce Willis takes the term literally in real life, as Susan Griffin discovers during a memorable interview

BRUCE WILLIS might be one of the biggest action stars on the planet but fast cars or guns don't interest him.

"All I'm really trying to be is entertaining, and the action sequences are just part of a certain kind of entertainment," says the 58-year-old.

"I like to try to make people laugh more than I like to fight in films."

The irony of this statement is only exaggerated given that Willis is speaking in a bored, monotone voice. The fact he's talking at all marks progress, though.

After a delay for an "ice-cream break", Willis, wearing a never-explained towelling dressing gown over his clothes, is ready to discuss Red 2.

It's the sequel to the successful 2010 movie Red, in which the likes of Willis, John Malkovich and Dame Helen Mirren appeared as retired CIA agents who uncover a high-tech assassin who is threatening former black ops agent Frank Moses (Willis).

This time round, the team assemble to track down a missing lethal device that could change the balance of world power – but at the movie's core is Frank's relationship with Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker), the customer services agent he met in the first movie.

Frank wants to live a quiet life, while Sarah's concerned things are getting stale.

Would Willis agree they are they stuck in a rut? There's a long pause. All that's missing is the tick-tock of a clock to fill the silence. Finally, his mouth begins to move.

"I like the idea of being awkward about romance," he says slowly. "Because I think in real life I do an OK job at being romantic. But I also enjoy the character in this film, especially as Red 2 was written in that direction."

It's unclear where he is going with this, but we must trudge on.

The movie takes place in Paris, London and Tokyo, but Willis was more concerned that the script hit the right tone. "When we did the first film, it was ambitious and it's not often they [the money men] try to make something that has action, romance and comedy all in the same film," he says laboriously.

This time the cast was joined by Catherine Zeta-Jones, South Korean Byung Hun Lee and Sir Anthony Hopkins.

"I like to work with ensemble casts and I like to work with this group of actors especially," says Willis.

"All we do all day long is try and make each other laugh, and hopefully that gets on to the screen."

Hopkins, in particular, seems to be having a ball as the genius scientist Edward Bailey.

"Everyone likes the challenge of trying to be funny," Willis deadpans.

Red was inspired by a comic book series created 10 years ago but Willis wasn't "a comic book guy" growing up.

"Unless you want me to make it up?" he asks. "I tell you no-one's bigger than me when it comes to comic books!" Instead, he spent "most of my time outside playing".

Willis made his name in action titles, a genre that required an actor to keep himself in good nick.

"Vanity plays a big part in staying in shape," he says, shrugging. "I have to think about the food I eat and picking up weights."

So what does he think about co-star Parker describing him as "a sweet man".

A hint of a smile flickers across his mouth. "Well, that's very nice of her," says Willis, who has been married to Emma Heming for four years.

And just as a softer side is peeping through that tough veneer, it's time to wrap up.

l Red 2 is released in cinemas tomorrow