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.

He said: ''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.

Speaking at the UK premiere of the movie, he told BANG Showbiz: ''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 metre 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.''

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.