Jackie Chan: I want to prove myself

Jackie Chan has ambitions to be the Asian Robert De Niro.

The Hong Kong actor is famous the world over for his stunt work and comedy performances.

Films such as Rush Hour and Shanghai Nights launched his career in Hollywood, but he still looks towards acting legends as inspiration.

"Yes," Jackie said when British magazine ShortList asked him if he'd like to try non-action based roles. "I want to try to act as so many [different] characters, to prove myself. I want to be an Asian Robert De Niro, an Asian Dustin Hoffman, an Asian Al Pacino."

Despite his wish to try his hand at more serious roles, he once turned down the chance to star opposite Nicole Kidman in The Interpreter as he found the script had too much dialogue.

He met his hero Bruce Lee at a young age when he served as a stuntman on iconic movie Enter the Dragon. While the legendary martial arts star offered no advice to a young Jackie, he did spend time with him off set.

"I was going to get the bus to the bowling alley, when suddenly I saw Bruce Lee walk in front of me. 'Hi Jackie, where you going?' I said, 'Bowling.' He said, 'Can I go with you?' I was like, 'Yes!' I forgot the bus, now I had Bruce Lee with me, I got a taxi. As soon as we walked into the alley, everybody went crazy. I became like his bodyguard," he laughed.

Jackie's latest role as Asian Hawk in Chinese Zodiac broke the Guinness World Record for most stunts performed by a living actor.

The accolade is an impressive one, but didn't come easily to the 60-year-old action star.

"I hurt my back, almost broke it. I was really, really hurt. I’ve broken it many times before, of course, but this time, I’m thinking, 'Wow, Jackie, you’re lucky.' I don’t want to sit in a wheelchair for the rest of my life," he said.