Forget Optimus Prime. The real transformer is Mark Wahlberg.

In the past 30 years, he has gone from being a juvenile delinquent to a Calvin Klein underwear pin-up rapper to a respected major player in Hollywood with a slew of award-winning titles to his name, including movies such as The Fighter and television shows Entourage and Boardwalk Empire.

So what’s the next step in the 43-year-old’s enduring transformation? What about being in the same movie as the Autobots and Decepticons?

Wahlberg joins The Transformers movie series in its fourth instalment, Age Of Extinction, as Cade Yeager, an inventor who gets thrust into an extraordinary situation in order to protect his daughter.

“Being a dad, I can certainly relate to a father doing everything he can to protect his daughter,” he said. “Because I’m also very protective of my own daughter to the furthest possible extent. Luckily I have a couple more years before I have to worry about boyfriends!”

Q: What made you want to be in Transformers: Age Of Extinction?

A: Even before reading the script, I was excited about it because Michael (Bay, director) had told me the story and talked to me about the characters, and it just seemed like the right movie for me. And he really allowed me to develop my character. And then, as it’s a Michael Bay movie, it ends up looking even better than you had imagined! He was the main attraction for me. Just to watch somebody manage a gigantic production like (this) is pretty impressive. Whether it’s a 30-day or 100-day shoot, he is always on top of every aspect of it.

Q: Did you watch the three previous Transformers movies?

A: I started watching them with my children and enjoyed them, but I think this one is a little edgier than the previous ones.

Q: What makes these films different from other similar ones?

A: The difference is precisely that the audience can sense that those other films are a bit of an imitation of what Michael has done with Transformers. He just knows how to take these movies to a complete other level. And I thought it would be a very interesting challenge for me as an actor; so it was also a bit of a risk for me, but if I’m going to take a risk, I definitely prefer to take it with someone like Michael Bay. They are entertaining and just great fun to watch. And I like the emotional story in this one of a dad willing to do anything for his daughter. I think that can work well if you get it right.

Q: After Ted and now with Transformers, how comfortable are you interacting with characters that are not really in front of you?

A: I feel confident when I know that Michael Bay is running the show, because I know we are in good hands and that everything is going to be where he says it’s going to be. You can find yourself feeling pretty silly having a heated conversation with a giant robot that isn’t really there, but he is going to protect you and make sure you don’t look ridiculous.

Q: Is it true that you did most of your stunts?

A: Yes, which means you have to be physically prepared. It’s months of working 12 hours a day, five days a week. I used to be the one who wanted to do all my stunts, but now I’m a father and I don’t mind if they send the guy who looks just like me to crash the car.

Q: Did you get to improvise on set?

A: Oh yes, a lot! But it was always within the context of the story and the situation, because if you are not prepared and just go off rambling, it can be a big problem.

Q: You also have some great moments with Stanley Tucci.

A: Stanley is great! We worked together on The Lovely Bones but didn’t have a lot of time to play, as it was a serious subject, although with this, we had a lot of fun. He plays this larger-than-life powerful guy who is kind of responsible for a lot of what is happening. So, we get to dig into each other. Getting to go head-to-head with someone like Stanley Tucci is a lot of fun. And he is very generous as an actor.

Q: Michael Bay has really made these Transformers films come alive. What are the toys of your childhood that you would have liked to have seen come alive?

A: Probably the Monopoly money.

Transformers: Age Of Extinction opens in cinemas tomorrow.