Brendan Fraser on his superpowers and why he thank Matt Damon

Just who is Brendan Fraser anyway? From playing the smart student in School Ties to the Canadian goofball in Dudley Do-Right, from a wild guy in George of the Jungle to the action hero in The Mummy, the 31-year-old brown-eyed stunner is impossible to typecast. So it's no surprise that in Fraser's latest film, Bedazzled, out this month, this 6-foot-3 hunk veered off tangent once again to play a totally nerdy computer techie who makes a deal with the devil (played by Elizabeth Hurley) to win the woman of his dreams. Here, find out why Fraser isn't content to always play the stud, how he met his real-life superwoman, and why he's asked Cosmo to help him thank Matt Damon.

Q: Your character in Bedazzled is a geeky computer guy. how did they turn a handsome giant like you into such a dork?
A: To be honest, I think there's an inner geek in all of us, especially me. Besides, haven't you noticed? The dweebs are running the world.
Q: In Bedazzled, you keep getting humiliated by the devil. What's the most humiliating thing that's ever happened to you?
A: Do I really want to go into that? Once in high school a girlfriend gave me a box of chocolates and flowers on Valentine's Day, and while I was in mid-swoon, she broke up with me.
Q: If she was over you, why the gifts?
A: Maybe she thought it would lessen the blow.
Q: This summer, you'll be back in action-hero mode to make
The Mummy 2 in Morocco. Will it be hard to go from dweeb back to stud?

A: No, I think it's important to dig a little deeper no matter what the role is, and I never want to get stuck playing one type. I'm not looking forward to it for another reason though: It gets so hot in Morocco that cameras stick, brains fry, and the prop guns get jammed with sand.

Q: Tell me how you met your wife, Afton.
A: Her dog Wile E. introduced us.
Q: Excuse me?
A: It's true! Seven years ago I was at a barbecue and was being a shy guy, keeping my back to the wall, when this dog burst into the room and stuck his snout right between my, uh, pant pockets. Then Afton came in, and I'll never forget what she said: "Wile E., what did you find?"
Q: After a year and a half, how do you keep up with married life when you're always on a set?
A: That's what cell phones are for. Plus, Afton is my best friend. I love her, I love my job. She loves me, she loves my job. We make it work.

Q: What do you do to keep things homey on location?
A: Afton hates it, but I travel with this huge Darth Vader-looking suitcase that's filled with stereo gear--very important for any new environment.
Q: You moved from Canada to L.A. to become and actor, and your first big break was in the 1992 film School Ties, opposite Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. How did you land such a great part so soon?
A: I wouldn't have been cast in that film if it wasn't for Matt I was fresh out of theater school, and my acting wasn't natural enough. So when Matt and I met on the day of the screen test before I got the role, I realized how good he was because he reads his lines like he owns them. I matched his tone, and I got the part.
Q: Did you ever thank him for providing that help?
A: No, I've kept that more or less to myself until now. I don't know if Matt reads Cosmo, but I'd like to thank him here. He gave me the keys to the kingdom.
Q: Aren't you two in touch?
A: We still see each other around campus--that kind of thing. I've seen him at a couple of events, and we still keep in touch through mutual friends. We're happy when we see one another.
Q: How would you describe yourself?
A: I come from a very long line of strong, silent types. I live by my third grade teacher's words, "Think before you stink."
Q: If you could make seven wishes, like your character in Bedazzled, what would you wish for?
A: Let's see. No more junk mail. Peace on Earth. Good will to all men. I'd want superpowers--like being able to breathe underwater for as long as I'd like or being able to walk through walls....is that seven yet?
Q: No, that's five. You could wish for seven more wishes...
A: Oh, no, you can't do that.
Q: Why can't you do that?
A: It's terrible bad luck and you could die. And anyway, I think I have everything I want.