There are plenty of his fans who think actor Edward Norton is simply magic - well, now it's official. He is. As well as being one of Hollywood's most talented leading men, the 37-year-old star can now add magician to his impressive CV.

The versatile actor proved he had plenty of tricks up his sleeve for his latest movie The Illusionist, in which he plays a magician.

"I do all the tricks myself," Edward says proudly. "My favourite was one where I brought an orange out and let it float over my hand.

"It wasn't a visual effect. There are no illusions in the film because we were trying to stay true to the turn of the 19th century. They were doing some amazingly sophisticated stuff back then, so everything you see is not over-reaching what was being done at that time."

In the supernatural mystery, which also stars British actor Rufus Sewell, Edward plays enigmatic stage magician Eisenheim, who bends nature's laws to his will but finds an opponent in a shrewd police inspector (Paul Giamatti) determined to expose him as a fake.

In order to transform himself from movie man to magic man, Edward studied alongside British magician James Freedman - a member of the exclusive Magic Circle and a stage 'pickpocket' by profession - and admits it left him spellbound.

"I was really enthusiastic to work with James," he says, "Having him around was incredible and really helpful. It was the best part of the job because he's one of the ultimate all-stars in his field today."

Boston-born Edward is also at the top of his game, thanks to his success in a wide range of films such as Fight Club, The People Vs Larry Flynt and Keeping The Faith. He has never appeared in a period movie before and says that he couldn't wait to go back in time.

"I've long wanted to do a period piece," Edward enthuses. "And it more than lived up to my expectations. I remember at one point standing at the gates of a castle in Prague, where we were filming, with about 500 extras and all these coaches and horses, thinking, wow, this is amazing. You could believe you were right there, back in that time in history."

The star also couldn't wait to don the garb of the era: "The clothes do half the work for you," he says. "The beard, the stiff collars and tight boots. It all puts you in a different posture, and helps you move as your character must've moved - with restraint."

Another draw for Edward was the chance to work with Rufus Sewell - he says he's always been a big fan of the British actor.

"Working with him was truly enjoyable," Edward says with a smile.

Edward, Oscar-nominated twice before he was even 30, has gained a reputation for immersing himself in his roles, such as his memorable turn in American History X when he gained 30lbs of muscle and shaved his head to play a violent white supremacist.

And though he's constantly referred to as one of the finest actors of his generation, the modest star shrugs off such accolades.

"It doesn't mean your day-to-day work is any different, you still have to face all the minute-to-minute challenges," he says. "You don't do it for yourself. You do it for other people to enjoy and the whole point is to connect with people and make them laugh, or cry, by telling a good story."

Though he's happy to talk about the work, he's famously tight-lipped about his private life. After high profile romances with Salma Hayek, Drew Barrymore and Courtney Love he now refuses to discuss whether or not there's someone special in his life.

"I think the more you load people up on your private life, the more disbelief they have to suspend when they watch you," he reasons.