Now star of a hugely successful spy action series, Matt Damon tells Robin Walker how Bourne has shaped his career

RECENTLY named Hollywood's most bankable star, it's fair to say Matt Damon owes much of his A-list inclusion to the Bourne trilogy. The spy dramas about an amnesiac agent determined to find out who he really is, have already made around $850m worldwide.

It was The Bourne Identity in 2002 and the follow-up The Bourne Supremacy in 2004 which hoisted the fresh-faced young actor into the $20 million-a-role club. The box office success of these popcorn hits has allowed him to do more edgy projects such as Syriana, The Departed and The Good Shepherd. Something Matt is more than aware of.

"The Bourne movies gave me the creative freedom to make all those other films I'm so proud of," he said.

"I loved all three of those movies and they were ones I desperately wanted to do.

"Other than Good Will Hunting, which pulled Ben Affleck and me out of obscurity, the Jason Bourne role has had the biggest impact on my career. It changed my life."

The series also helped him wise up to the true nature of the business too.

"That was when the rose-tinted lenses came off," said Matt.

"If you're in a hit you have a career. If not, the studios might think you're a nice guy, but they're not going to hang a movie on you."

In The Bourne Ultimatum he's once again on the run as the spy agency who created him try to bump him off. His mission is still to get back to them and find out who he was.

Directed by British documentary film-maker Paul Greengrass (United 93), this third action rollercoaster may not be the last, but Matt says there would have to be a new storyline if the franchise is to carry on.

"I think in terms of another one, this guy's search for his identity is over so there's no way we can trot out the same character," said Matt. "So much of what makes him interesting is the internal struggle. What is the secret behind my identity? Why am I remembering these disturbing images?' All this internal propulsion which drives the character is no longer there. If there is to be another Bourne film it would have to be a complete reconfiguration."

In the meantime Matt is happy to be over the hectic pace of making another Bourne thriller where fight scenes were often choreographed on the spot with dialogue added as they went.

Now a devoted father - who finds it hard spending time away from his one-year-old daughter Isabella - Matt says he felt his age on this last film.

He said: "This was the first time on a movie I realised I'm definitely getting older."

References to the dark underbelly of the secret service, have seen this film praised for its timely politics.

"Each of these movies is very much a reflection of the time in which it's made," Matt said. "You want the movie to feel like it's current, but ultimately it's a popcorn summer movie, hopefully with a little more."

Keen to continue taking on exciting roles, Matt still has plenty he wants to achieve.

"I love acting and I really want to direct. At this point I want to be smart about the work I'm doing and to have integrity about the choices I make."

  • The Bourne Ultimatum (12A) is in cinemas now.