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Ben Stiller has come a long way since his breakthrough role in There's Something About Mary. He continues to make hit movies with a close network of friends that include writer-director John Hamburg (Meet The Parents, Along Came Polly), Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums), and Owen Wilson, whom he also directed in Zoolander. This time they're teaming up for a comic spin on the 70s cop show Starsky & Hutch.

You do some dancing in this movie and in Along Came Polly. Is this a clause you now have written in to your contracts?

No, no! Never again! It was purely coincidental. I actually talked to Todd about that, but he was like, "But this is a totally different context. You're on cocaine..." So, I went along with it, but it's strange because I really never dance. I'm not a good dancer. I'm not inclined to do it. It's just hard to remember all the moves. If you look at my eyes when I'm dancing, you'll see that glazed look.

Or else that's down to the tight jeans...

Well, they were tight but that's how they were worn. We were trying to get the wardrobe exactly the way it was in the show. You know the SL76 Adidas that they stopped making? I kept those sneakers. Oh, and the cardigan sweater. Just for fun.

It's been said that you were in your Winnebago, on set, watching old episodes of Starsky & Hutch, take by take. Was that about wanting to completely immerse yourself in that world?

Actually it was more just trying to figure out a way to play the character. I didn't really know what to do so I just watched Paul Michael Glaser, because he was so cool. For me, he was the reason I wanted to do the movie because as a kid I was such a big fan of his. So I just watched all the episodes and tried to get a feeling for what he was doing. And then I realised quickly I couldn't do what he was doing, so I just sort of tried to run like him. After that Owen and I just tried to develop whatever our own relationship was that would work.

Obviously crucial to the formula...

I think that's why the show works so well, because these two guys were just so great together. When you watch the episodes you see that a lot of it is just about them and their interaction. The crime stuff is whatever it is, but really the reason the show is different is because of them.

But is it necessary that grown men should hug each other in public?

I think it's good for grown men to be able to hug each other, either in public or in private - whatever makes sense. That's what I like about the relationship; they're kind of emotional guys who aren't afraid to just be themselves with each other. We were just in Germany and they have some sort of weird word for it in German like man-o-freindschippe - no. Manofrundo-? Anyway, whatever, it's about men being able to be themselves with one another. I don't think that's bad.

Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul have cameos in the film. How intimidating was it for you to play that scene?

I always wanted them to be part of it. I just felt it was really important to give the nod to them, because they're the reason we're making the movie. I got to meet them before we started shooting the movie and it was just so exciting. I mean Paul really is Starsky! He really is that naturally cool guy.

It was good that we met before and he was very supportive and just very kind. Like saying to us, "Hey, just go out there, do your thing and have fun," because I think he knew Owen and me felt like we really had to live up to something. The day they came, it was well into the shoot, which was good because we had some time to be doing it, but it was definitely strange and a little bit intimidating. But we just did it. We didn't even talk about it. It was weird. Weird, but fun.

You've worked with Owen on a number of occasions now. What do you get out of your working experiences with him?

I feel like, with Owen, I always know what the experience is going to be. I know what to expect, which is a good thing - like he always makes me laugh.

Todd [Phillips, director] says Owen was always trying to get off work early. Is that true?

That's the thing! When you block out a scene, most actors are worrying about their motivation but Owen always has a suggestion like: "Maybe my character shouldn't be here." And if that doesn't work then he'll suggest that his character should sit down in the scene.

Did you find him difficult to direct in Zoolander?

I think he thinks, when I'm directing "Oh, Ben's telling me what to do - that means I can tell him what to do." So I'm like, "Go stand over there and do that." And he's like, "Oh, OK. I think you should go over there and do that." And I'm like, "No, Owen. I'm directing. I get to say where I go!" Even when I'm not directing, that doesn't stop Owen from having ideas for what I should be doing.

Did you feel more 'in control' behind the wheel of the Gran Torino?

Well, I liked driving the car. It was really fun and the car is so cool. I got a chance to learn how to drive a little bit because I'm not really an expert driver, so the stunt drivers took me out into the parking lot and taught me how to do a couple of things. I got to do some of the stuff in the movie, but just little simple things. But it's not like a really fancy car - it's just a Gran Torino, but they souped up the engine.

Owen says you can't drive. He says you crashed the car...

Yeah, he's lying. I don't know what he's talking about. He's lying. I never crashed the car once!

Starsky & Hutch is released in London's West End on Friday 12th March 2004, and nationwide on 19th March.