Mos Def says he's not the Tinseltown type.

Hard to believe, considering that he's already been seen on the silver screen alongside such luminaries as Halle Berry, Billy Bob Thornton and Eddie Murphy, his current flick "Brown Sugar" just debuted at #3 and he's signed on for a potential blockbuster with Mark Wahlberg, Edward Norton and Charlize Theron.

"I don't know too much about Hollywood," he said a few weeks ago on the set of his video for the song "Brown Sugar." "I only go out there when they give me money, and I leave."

Mos must be raking in the dough, because he isn't leaving anytime soon. He's currently filming the remake of the 1969 Michael Caine heist film "The Italian Job" with director F. Gary Gray and an ensemble cast that includes the aforementioned Wahlberg, Norton and Theron.

"I play a explosive specialist called Left Side, and he's deaf in one ear," he said of his role. "I'm excited about it. I think it's gonna be a big deal. But you know, it's a 50/50 [chance] with the movie thing. You give up a measure of control — you're not the director, you're not the editor, you're an actor.

"As a actor I try to do different things," he continued. "The thing for me is that I kinda have to make people forget about Mos Def when they're sitting down in the theater or sitting down watching a movie and just get into the character, not think about my persona or whatever celebrity [I have] as a musician. I'm not tied into one type of film or one type of story. There's all types of stories. I base my work as an actor on trying to pick the roles or projects that have a level of ambition to them. Sometimes it works, sometimes it don't. I at least try to take the risk."

And when you're taking the plunge, it's good to see accomplished people jumping in with you. Even though Def — who also directed his "Brown Sugar" video (see "Mos Def Talks Directing, New Musical Direction") — may not be as experienced as some of his counterparts on screen or on the Broadway stage, he insists that the pressure to elevate to their level works as a muse.

"It's not so much intimidation," he clarified. "You just want to perform. The most daunting experience I had working with another actor is [with] Jeffrey Wright [in "Topdog/Underdog"], because he's so good, and theater is really ... he excels in it. He just excels as an actor, period. It's the only time I was like, 'Man.'

"Billy Bob [Thornton] is great," he added. "I never really felt intimidation, just more nervousness and wanting to perform. ... You should work with people like that to keep you on your toes, to keep you on your game. [Talib] Kweli does that to me all the time [when we make music]. I hear something that Kweli does and I'm like, 'Oh, man.' Not in a competitive way, but you want to be sharp."

Def recalled that his thespian reflexes had to be extremely on point when acting on Broadway in "Topdog/Underdog" last spring. He can't wait to return.

"I'd love to [perform on Broadway again]," the Brooklyn-born MC said, smiling. "I'd love to do theater in general. 'Topdog/Underdog' is the first play I did in 10 years. I definitely want to do more. It's a very important medium of expression and communicating ideas. It's so immediate; it's right there. As an actor, you have complete control. It's different every night. It's a challenge [and] a very rewarding experience. God willing, you'll see me in some more theater."

We'll also be seeing Def releasing more music soon. Aside from his songs on the "Brown Sugar" soundtrack (see "Mos Def, Erykah Badu, Roots Make 'Brown Sugar' Music"), he's putting the finishing touches on his long-talked-about rock project, Black Jack Johnson. Still, watching his peers in the music realm prosper while he becomes fruitful as an actor isn't forcing Mos Def to rush his next album.

"I like to see people working 'cause I'm working," he said. "It's not like I put a record out and I've been home playing Sega. I been grinding. All these things I'm working on take a little bit of time to start and finish.

"For what my schedule has been, I think I've been very productive with my time. I like creating a little bit of suspense for the audience. Make them want it. And it's justified. I've been working like it's going out of style. I actually should take a vacation at one point."

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