Justin Timberlake is in Newcastle at the end of the month. From today, though, he can be seen in cinemas in new film Alpha Dog. With millions of record sales and a sex god reputation, you'd think singer Justin Timberlake would be quite happy with his lot. But not content with conquering the music charts, the Sexyback singer and former boyfriend of Britney Spears has his heart set on taking Hollywood by storm. The 25-year-old star has just landed the lead role in gritty new movie Alpha Dog, one of three films he'll be seen in this year. Not surprisingly, the multi-talented popstar turned actor is thrilled with his new career direction. "I'm really inspired by acting," he enthuses. "Why spend time doing something that I'm not really inspired to do? I've been really lucky to have a musical career that has gone pretty good and acting is something I've always wanted to do." Justin joins an esteemed cast in Alpha Dog, including Sharon Stone and Bruce Willis, but the actor admits he wasn't fazed by working alongside his veteran A-list co-stars. "When I came on to the film all the other actors were probably not looking forward to having to deal with me but I wasn't worried about it and I just showed up to work the same as everybody else. "I wanted to be a player in the film," he explains. "If you go in with the right intentions then the outcome ends up okay." It's hardly surprising though that the star is taking it all in his stride. After all, he's been performing from the age of 13 when he became a Mouseketeer in the US-based TV show the Mickey Mouse Club, alongside Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. At the age of 15 he became a poster boy for millions of girls when he joined the hugely successful American boy band *NSYNC, but insists all that early fame went right over his head. "I was always so removed from it all," he says with a shrug. "I always cared so much about what I did that stuff didn't really register. My parents instilled in me the mindset of always being humble, so I'd like to believe that all the teen idol stuff went in one ear and out the other. Now when I'm on the red carpet I'm there to do a job, but it's the coolest job in the world," he adds with a disarming grin. His level-headed attitude seems to be in sharp contrast with his troubled ex-girlfriend Britney who has just left rehab following her now famous head-shaving episode. Though Justin is said to have offered support to his fragile ex, he won't confirm rumours that they will record a duet together. Justin becomes much more open when discussing Alpha Dog, a movie which will show fans a very different side to the affable and charming star. In the film, based on a true-life story, Justin stars as Frankie Ballenbacher - a rich LA kid who gets caught up in a botched drug deal, resulting in a deadly kidnapping. "It's a tough movie to watch," he says. | 
