10 Questions for Seth Rogen

Seth Rogen
Mario Anzuoni / Reuters
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Are you a stoner in real life or just in the movies? Adam Odsess-Rubin BERKELEY, CALIF.

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Rising Star

See how the 26 year-old comic sensation emerged from co-star to star in many recent hit comedies

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Smoking Hot

TIME's Rebecca Winters Keegan talks with one of Hollywood's go-to funnymen, Seth Rogen, about his latest film, the action-comedy Pineapple Express, his star turn in Knocked Up, and his comedic inspiration

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The guy from Berkeley asked that? That's a shock. Yeah, I smoke pot. Not to the extent that my characters do, just because I have jobs and my characters often don't.

Your movie is an action stoner flick. Isn't that an oxymoron? Marnix Weber, WASHINGTON

I guess it is. That's kind of the joke of it. Who are the last guys in the world that would function well in an action-movie-type situation? The answer is potheads. I've definitely spent large periods of my life where I've done absolutely nothing but smoke weed, so it was during those periods where we thought, If someone was trying to murder us, that would be pretty entertaining--until they killed us.

If you weren't a comedian, what would you be? Tanuj Pandey NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J.

Oh, man, I don't think I could do anything else. I'd probably be a crackhead, maybe a drug dealer or seller of bootleg movies--something like that. Something easy and illegal. I started doing stand-up when I was around 13 years old, so this is all I've ever really wanted to do.

You're going to play the Green Hornet. What makes you qualified to play a superhero? Claudio Paone, BOSTON

Well, he's not a superhero. He has no superpowers--he's just a master crime fighter. But what makes me qualified to play one? I don't know. I've acted in movies before. I am an actor. I guess that instantly makes me qualified. I read a lot of comic books, so I think that helps. Man, Claudio really has an attitude problem.

Do you ever think about acting in serious roles? Mary Muhlenfeld NAPERVILLE, ILL.

Yeah. I mean, I don't sit around and think about it for large periods of time, but I would do it. I don't really go to that many serious movies. And my only rule is, Is the role something I would go see? Often I'll read a script and say, That's a great movie, tons of people will go see that, but I never would in a million years.

Much of your comedy is based on the geek subculture. Are you still a geek, or have you grown out of it? Misha Bawa, VANCOUVER

I was at Comic-Con for hours. If anything, I've made more money, and it's allowed me to really indulge in my geeky side in a way I never thought I'd be able to. I buy comic books and toys and figurines and statues--all that stuff.

Are there any plans for a Freaks and Geeks movie? Darrell Surhigh SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.

I can't imagine how many people would be interested in seeing it, to be perfectly honest. There is a real subculture of people who like it, but if it was really that popular, it wouldn't have gotten canceled in the first place. It would probably suck, I imagine.

Where do you get inspiration for the films you write? Frederick Do RIVERSIDE, CALIF.

Obviously, people draw from things that happen to them in life. But when [writing partner] Evan Goldberg and I write, we always think about what would we want to see when we go see movies.

Who is your fashion idol? Jecca Galeas, HOUSTON

My girlfriend dresses nice, so she's my fashion idol. If she really hates something I'm wearing, she'll be very vocal about it. My weight fluctuates, and I'll try to hang on to clothes that probably aren't right for whatever weight I'm at. She'll be very quick to point that out.

Has your success changed what a leading man can look like in films? Michael Tedder NEW YORK CITY

John Candy was the lead in a lot of movies. I mean, there's been much fatter, uglier people than me who've done this. So I'd say no, not necessarily. That being said, I've noticed a lot more guys who kind of look like me out in the world. Like, there's more slightly heavyset Jewish guys who have dark glasses and let their hair grow out a little bit. Me and Jonah Hill have started that trend.

To hear more from Rogen and to subscribe to the 10 Questions podcast on iTunes, go to time.com/10questions

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