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When conceptualising Lex Luthor, did you go back to the Richard Donner movie, to how Gene Hackman played the part?

Absolutely not; I didn't even watch it. I just played Richard II at the Old Vic, it would be like going back and watching John Gielgud play that role -- why would I want to do that? I am not going to imitate that performance, so why get that in your head?

You have to trust yourself, and I think it is dangerous to look at someone else's performance because the truth is no actor owns the part -- that is the fun about this sort of iconic part, different actors bring their own takes to it and we get the fun of watching that.

For instance, Luthor has been done by Michael Rosenbaum in the television series Smallville and by Gene Hackman in the movie, but I think it is essential that we each do our own thing. I have great respect for the Donner film but, no, I didn't want to go back to that.

So, how did you think of the part?

Lex is darker, far more bitter and out for revenge, but he still has that comic flair. He is the ultimate capitalist. He has wide-ranging, hugely complicated, evil plans. But, at the end of the day, it's really basic -- he just wants his share of the pie and then some.

Lex and Superman have both been away for a while, and Lex has a plan for when they come back together that, of course, involves real estate. As a character, Lex Luthor has always been about property.

Considering you are a director yourself, is there a part of you going 'that is not the way to do it'?

No, not unless it is a bad director -- and with Bryan Singer, I don't have that problem. I trust him totally.

You get to do a scene out of the original film, with Marlon Brando. What was that like?

It was thrilling! And I couldn't help but imitate him while doing that scene!