'Bad boy' LaBeouf transforming from child star into Hollywood's hottest property
Shia LaBeouf has gone from jobbing child actor to international superstar almost as quickly as a car can morph into a robot.
He's now one of the hottest young actors in Hollywood and is commanding the column inches to go with it.
In the weeks leading up to the release of Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, the stories have been rife.
"I'm living a meaningless life", shouted one magazine headline. Another claimed: "I saw my parents have sex", crediting his sense of humour to his parents' hippy, carefree lifestyle. He's been labelled an alcoholic and "resentful" and "foul-mouthed".
Yet today, sitting in a posh London hotel, the 23-year-old is keeping that side of him, if it exists, firmly hidden. In fact, his lips are almost as tightly buttoned as the shirt he's wearing.
Life has changed out of all proportions for the LA-born actor since Transformers, the highest-grossing film of 2007 and the attention is sure to get even more intense with the release of the sequel, in which he reprises his role as plucky teenager Sam Witwicky.
"It's been great," he says, taking a sip of water. "My trailer was bigger this time! It's flattering. You know, it's the best kind of review to be asked to do it again.
"First time, it was figuring a lot of things out – we were flying by the seat of our pants. This time, we've battened down the hatches. These movies are adventurous to make. It's not just an adventure to watch."
It turned out to be quite a rough ride for LaBeouf , who preferred to do a lot of his own stunts. An existing hand injury – a result of a car crash, for which he was arrested, but not charged, on suspicion of drink-driving – also had to be written into the script.
"Yes, I got injured during this film. We were filming in New Mexico and in the middle of an action scene, I impaled my face on a spike and was surrounded by Navy SEALs," he recalls. "I had to go to a military hospital and get stitched up. It's an aggressive shoot.
"I broke my hand, I almost went blind, and sprained my knee. It was a rough shoot, but I feel good now."
One of the attractions of the sequel was reuniting with film-maker Michael Bay, who he'll work with again on the third Transformers movie, due out in 2012.
"Michael and I are like big brother, little brother," he says. "He's like a football coach, and he doesn't coddle you."
Despite enjoying the perks fame has brought, he remains reluctant to embrace celebrity, preferring to keep his personal life to himself, and staying away from the Hollywood party scene. He lives in a modest two-bedroom house near his mother, but despite his best efforts, he's struggled to keep his name out of the papers.
In November 2007, he was arrested for an incident in a Chicago pharmacy, and last July he was involved in the car crash in his home town.
"I've had to deal with all types of situations – positive and negative," he admits.
"I didn't read the book on how to be a well-adjusted celebrity. I still haven't figured out that I'm a star yet."
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