Jean-Claude Van Damme gets "depressed" when he isn't working.

The Expendables 2 actor even hates having down time between scenes because it makes him "cranky and bored," but says the unhappiness is worth it because he comes alive in front of a camera.

"I get depressed between the shoots. When it's finished, when you are a bad guy in the movie, with that type of entity in your mind, you go back to your hotel and make faces. I'm very cranky, I get bored, I look at my table for hours and then when I get called for the movie I'm still bored in my trailer. But when the director says 'action' that's where I'm supposed to be. I want that experience. To be an actor it's hard unless you can come in and come out. I cannot do that, it's got to be all the way for me."

Jean-Claude credits the film, and its writer, Sylvester Stallone - who also stars in the movie - for resurrecting his career and helping him become a better actor.

"There's a DVD public and a movie public. I was DVD a year ago. People were like, 'Hey JC, when you going to make a movie?' I'm like, 'S**t I just made eight of them.' Well one day I'll be back on the big screen. And because of Expendables - boom, big screen. I have the chance on the big screen since I became a better actor to reduce the exaggeration of my acting. I can use what's inside. The great thing is on the big screen your eyes are like one meter each. You can see the soul of the actor and that's why I love the big screen. Thank God to Expendables 2 I'm back on the big screen so I can see myself act again. And thank to Sylvester Stallone for bringing me back," he said at the film's UK premiere.

Jean-Claude was joined on the red carpet at the premiere in London by his co-stars, including Sylvester, Dolph Lundgren, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jason Statham.