There are very few actors that we would call living legends but the man who gave the world Han Solo and Indiana Jones would certainly be one. When you take into account how rarely he does interviews, it was an honor to simply hear what Harrison Ford has to say about his new movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. What’s even better is that Ford doesn’t hold back, commenting on why it took nearly 20 years to make another Indiana Jones movie, his concerns about the premise, Cate Blanchett, and his sense of adventure in his real life. When Harrison Ford talks, people listen, and we were lucky enough to do so recently at a press conference. What follows are the highlights.

Harrison Ford on why the script took so long:

We were doing other things. We had a roadmap, but there was no sense of it for any of us. And nobody was expecting a new roadmap, but it means we were anxious, you know. It was something that would happen at the right time. Then came one hour we were on the same page, in fact, the same 120 pages. We wanted something that would work for all of us.

Ford on why he returned to the character of Indiana Jones:

The opportunity attracted me. I always wanted to do the role again, but it lacked all the elements. And now we three are in agreement.

On whether it’s true that Spielberg and him were unsure of the Crystal Skull premise:

It is, you could say, yes. I like the relationships, elements of adventure and such. But George, like, that (makes a pleading face) is very strong. And I have to admit, he was right. He is always right, more or less.

Does Harrison Ford consider Han Solo and Indiana Jones to be similar to himself:

There’s a big difference between Han and Indy. Indy is more complex and interesting. He writes grants, explores, expeditions. Each character has only me to convey what needs to be transmitted. So, everyone is like me (physically). I’m not that type of guy who puts on a rubber nose or heavy makeup. My public doesn’t like to see me doing that, I think. They vote, as I do, with their dollars. And Han Solo is a little dumb.

Ford on Cate Blanchett as a villain:

Cate is incredibly bad. It was great working with her. I had not seen her without makeup. By the third week, I didn’t recognize her.

On the physical challenges:

We do all our own stunts as before. I’m usually training to keep in shape. It hurts to stop, you know, and then try to go back to the gym. The action scenes are very relevant to ‘Indiana Jones’, and it is important that I create consistency with the character and generate an emotional connection with the public. They need to see my face, not the back of a double.

On the safety changes over the last 20 years:

Safety was a major change. Shia and I wore a flying suit, which took a security cable. Everything was done with great safety. The scene of the trailer, when I leap with the whip, had a cable there. It was all well designed.

Harrison Ford on his childhood heroes:

I had no such thing as a child. My biggest hero was Abraham Lincoln. Never much liked this definition "hero". When a sheriff leaves at noon for a duel, he is a man creating a character complex and full of nuance. This concept of "hero" was something that came later in the industry because somebody thought we needed these heroes. A hero is the guy who saves a baby from a fire; a police officer who protects an innocent, a soldier who saves his companions. There is such thing as "heroism". But as an actor, you never want to interpret "heroism". You sign for a character. Indeed, what’s the job application for "hero"? You interpret a doctor, a police officer, it’s always someone, a person.

His thoughts on working in television:

I do not do TV. Participating in a series is like any other job. TV is usually a compromise, and we already have a person in the family who was committed to TV for a long time indeed, that was enough.

On working with guys like Spielberg and George Lucas:

The films of Spielberg and Lucas are great descriptions of what they’re like. The characters you see, it’s an accurate reflection of their nature. Ask them, or just watch their films if you want to know what they’re like.

Harrison Ford on taking risks and being adventurous in real life:

I am not adventurous. I am not interested in risks, but prefer to read about them. I am not a climber, a fighter. I am an actor. My adventure is when I make a movie, and I do this for my public, who are my clients.