Old-model Ford's in action

HE'S the second-highest grossing actor in cinema history behind Tom Hanks. Just don't ask Harrison Ford about his movies.

It's difficult to tell where the curt 63-year-old actor ends and the dry-as-a-gin-and-tonic screen icon begins, writes Michael Bodey.

For instance, how do you ask about the much-anticipated return of his Indiana Jones in a fourth escapade? "Don't ask, just don't ask," said Ford. "I've given the same f. . .ing answer to everyone.

That said, he revealed it's happening. Soon. And he swore with the hint of a grin.

What about Hollywood's inability to replace dashing leading men like himself, Tom Cruise, George Clooney and others with a new generation of stars? "Well, there shouldn't be any new Tom Cruises, any new Harrison Fords, that's not a successful outcome," he said. "There should be a new Heath Ledger, a new whoever," he added.

Ford was in Sydney, with partner Calista Flockhart, to promote his latest thriller, Firewall, in which he must save his family from blackmailers. There's a little of Patriot Games' Jack Ryan and a little of Air Force One's President Marshall in the role but after more than 40 films, it's natural to worry about repeating yourself, he admitted.

"Yeah, everybody does, sure, but Shakespeare rightly said there's only seven plots and if you leave out the one involving your sister, there's only six left for me."

Another joke, this time with no grin.

- By Michael Bodey