It’s shocking to hear that Paul Walker just turned 30. With roles in “Pleasantville,” “She’s All That” and “Fast and the Furious” (and its sequel “2 Fast 2 Furious”), Walker has established himself as a heartthrob in the world of teen movies. Well surprise, this teen isn’t a teen. He’s the father of a 4 year-old girl. For his latest movie, Walker is trying something new: time travel.

An adaptation of a Michael Crichton novel, “Timeline” is about a group of archeological students who get trapped in 14th century France while trying to save their professor. Walker plays Chris Johnston, a recent college graduate who travels around the world with his professor-father (Billy Connolly) and who later leads the group of students in their rescue of his father. Intermission talked to Paul Walker about the movie, girls and who’s cool in Hollywood.

INTERMISSION: How was it working with director Richard Donner?

WALKER: I liked it. We had a really good time, he was really confident. He really knows what he wants and its real unnerving when you’re working with a director who doesn’t know what he wants.

INT: Where was the movie filmed?

WALKER: We filmed in Montreal.

INT: How was it?

WALKER: It was great. I didn’t know what people were saying cause they were speaking French [laughs].

INT: How true to the book is the movie?

WALKER: It deviates a bit. When you condense a 520-page book to 120 pages for a script, you have to lose a lot. That’s the scary part, I think, making the executive decision on what can stay and what has to go. I think they did a good job. I feel good about it, I feel good about it.

IN: Did you read the book before?

WALKER: No, I was told not to. I read it after though.

INT: Was making the movie physically demanding?

WALKER: It wasn’t as hard as the “Fast and the Furious” movies.

INT: How do you keep active?

WALKER: I race cars. I surf a lot.

INT: I read somewhere that instead of wearing the tights you’d rather wear the armor.

WALKER: Uh huh.

INT: If you could go anywhere through time travel, where would you go?

WALKER: Definitely the Medieval Times. Oh yeah. I’d love to be Lancelot. I would want to see if the whole King Arthur and the Round Table really happened

INT: What kind of preparation went into the role for this film?

WALKER: My character isn’t an archeologist but since he’s around it all of his life, he just picks stuff up. So I hung out with Gerry [Gerard Butler] and Francis [O’Connor], the archeologist specialists, and it was just basically Q & A.

INT: Who do you relate to more, Chris’ character from “Timeline” or Brian’s character from “The Fast and the Furious” movies?

WALKER: Chris’ character is not as cool. He’s a lot more like me. Brian from the “Fast and the Furious” has more of an edge; he’s a lot colder and not as approachable. Chris’ character is more vulnerable; he’s just out of college. He hasn’t figured himself out yet.

INT: You eventually hope to produce your film someday?

WALKER: One I want to do right now is a Western.

INT: You’ve been quoted saying “Hollywood is garbage.” What did you mean by that and do you still believe it?

WALKER: Yeah, I said that a long time ago. People tend to lose perspective and that’s what I was referring to. I don’t really fit in this town, sometimes I wake up and I just don’t know what I’m doing. There are a lot of nice people in this town; it just has a bad reputation. You wanna know the cool people in this town, I’ll tell you. John Voigt, he’s really cool. Jeff Daniels, Matt Craven, Billy Connolly . . .

INT: You tend to be more down to earth than most celebrities, what makes you not get arrogant?

WALKER: My dad would kick my ass. I grew up as a Mormon and I went to a Christian high school. Nah, but I was still a knucklehead.

{Billy Connolly enters the room and we stop for a while as Walker says hello.}

INT: How was it working with Billy Connolly?

WALKER: He’s cool. You know how you have your co-workers. Some you get along with and some are so-so. But there are some you meet that are really awesome. When Billy’s on set, everything is just so much cooler. He’s that kind of person. He’s real positive; he’s always the glass-half-full guy. Hanging out with people like him really rubs off on you and its just great.

INT: Your career is definitely on the upswing right now. You’re seen as a heartthrob character, are you afraid that will limit the roles you get?

WALKER: Nah, as long as I have a job. And if some girls find me cute, right on, it’ll help me find a date later on.

INT: You tend to get roles in which you player younger characters. How do you feel about that?

WALKER: I’m very young for my age. I just turned 30 but I still feel like a kid.

INT: Is there any actor or actress that you want to work with?

WALKER: I would love to work with Morgan Freeman. And Jeff Daniels and John Voigt.

INT: Do you watch a lot of television?

WALKER: No, and when I do I only watch Discovery Channel and Animal Planet.

INT: You grace a lot of covers of magazines and do a lot of interviews. Do you read your own stuff?

WALKER: I can’t bring myself to look at it. I beg my family and friends not to look at it. I don’t want to hear it, I don’t want to go home and see me on the coffee table. So when my mom buys one now, she hides it. I think I’m in denial.

INT: What was your favorite role?

WALKER: I liked what I did in “Pleasantville.” But that’s all because of Gary Ross [director]. I also have real fun memories of “Varsity Blues.”

INT: What project are you working on next?

WALKER: “Noel.” Chazz Palminteri, he wrote “A Bronx Tale” is directing this movie. Robin Williams, Susan Sarandon and Penelope Cruz are also in it. I’m so nervous you have no idea.

INT: What is one thing you want to be remembered for?

WALKER: To be in cool movies. I want people to think, “He made some cool movies.” It feels good when you’re walking down the street and some kid comes up to you and says “Paul! Whaddup! You’re in my favorite movie.” I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of that.

“Timeline” opens in theaters on Nov. 26.