Shia Labeouf

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The star of cult robot movie Transformers tells TONY HORKINS about ditching the green screen for real stunts

Were you much of a Transformers fan before making the movie?

I’m an 80s baby, so for me it was huge. It was the male Barbie in the 80s.

Some online fans seem upset that they brought Transformers back – what do you think of that?

As an honest former fan, I’m glad they made a movie. But it’s a whole new world now with the internet – people want to get nit-picky and talk about Batman’s nipples. Who cares?

Do you go online and join in the debate?

Yeah, I have a “talkback” name. I like to see how far I can get and how much the hatred grows. It’s kind of fun.

What’s the worst thing you have read about yourself?

That I have Aids, that I was raised by three males, that I drive a stolen car. Some guy said I cut my mother’s toes off and made soup. I wrote back that not only did I cut my mother’s toes off, but I also took her tongue and her fingers as well.

Transformers producer Michael Bay is famous for yelling at his cast. How was it working with him?

I needed that. I didn’t need a cheerleader, or somebody who’s going to come up to me very quietly and say: “Listen, what do you think?” You need to feel gung ho, and Bay is the dude that comes in and goes, “Let’s f***ing get it done.”

Did I hear that he dangled you from a building?

Yes, and he could easily have shot that in green screen. But this is the kind of guy Bay is. He tries to make it as real as possible. So I hung on to two wires from one of the highest buildings in LA, 40 floors up.

What was going through your mind at that point?

Death. But when you get off you feel like a rock star.

Were you worried about being back-up to robots?

No! I’m such a big fan so to be on screen with Bumblebee is like being on screen with Poitier.

Transformers is in cinemas now.