ADAPTED FROM the book, Babylon Babies by French author, Maurice G. Dantec, Babylon A.D. is a thrilling sci-fi drama, with jaw-dropping action sequences and highly impressive visual effects.

The film sees actor Vin Diesel offering a powerful portrayal of hardened warrior, Toorop, who is charged with a seemingly impossible task: smuggling his 'package' - the beautiful and mysterious Aurora - from the only home she has known, 6,000 miles across multiple borders to New York.

The popular action star talks about his role, his dare-devil status and the joys of fatherhood.

What drew you to this role?

"I am drawn to these complex characters. What made me say 'yes' to the role is that it was an action film told from a European perspective, which meant that it would be quite different from a film made in Hollywood. I had just finished working with the wonderful filmmaker Sidney Lumet on Find Me Guilty so I was very interested in making something different and fresh."

Tell us about your character's mission.

"He is taking a human 'package' of which he knows nothing, to a religious group called the Neolites. They plan to use this 'package', this girl, to prove that they have the Messiah. In essence that is what it is all about."

What does this film say about religion?

"What I got from the film was that we have to take a long, hard look at what role religion will play in the future. I think the film is saying that religion can be a negative force and is the culprit of many of the ills in our society. That is a daring thing for a filmmaker to tackle. Then again, the action and story makes for an exciting and different type of piece."

Are you a spiritual person?

"I am spiritual for sure, that is important to me. I feel there is more than this world that we know. It's not about going to a specific church, it is just about being spiritual - doing your best in life to be a good person."

Your action characters are often fearless. Are you quite brave in real life?

"I would not describe myself as fearless because since I have been doing action movies, I have not been a thrill-seeker in my normal life. When I was younger, I went to Hunter College in New York and I would ride my motorcycle from downtown New York City at 70 or 80 miles an hour, which is the quickest way to die."

Do you train a lot?

"It depends on the role. I like to stay flexible but I don't want to be branded as 'the guy who is in the gym every second of the day".

For this film, they specifically did not want my character to look like someone who goes to the gym every day.

It's funny because people tell me I look really fit in this movie and I go, 'wait a minute, the whole idea was to make the guy look formidable without feeling like he had that vanity people often have when they go to the gym all the time!"

What do you think your purpose in life is?

"I have no idea at all. I think about it a lot. I have pulled my hair out thinking 'what is my purpose?' I can tell you this though: I recently became a father and having a little baby makes your purpose become pretty clear. Fatherhood is unbelievable, probably the only clear thing in my life."

Would you like to do more family films?

"I would love to do a family comedy for my daughter. She hasn't seen The Pacifier or The Iron Giant yet - or any of Daddy's work. She is much too young, but she will."

Babylon A.D. is out on DVD and Blu-ray on Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment