Perlman Pushed Too Far As Hellboy

Movie star Ron Perlman was so convinced he was invincible as comic book hero Hellboy, he insisted on shooting one stunt scene with a broken rib.

The impressive new movie topped the American box office yesterday (04APR04) in its first weekend of release, and many critics insist that's because Perlman is so convincing as the ghoul raised to do good.

Even Perlman believed he was Hellboy at points in the movie.

He explains, "They had me chasing a train that was coming towards us. I thought I'd timed it right but the train hit me before I hit it and cracked a rib.

"I was perfectly happy to continue on with the take but the guy operating the camera said, 'I don't think you should be crying in this scene.'"