The booming voice and chiseled facial hair confirmed his identity, but the broad smile and throaty laugh were unexpected from this often stone-faced actor who has turned "Matrix’s" solemn Morpheus into an icon. As it turned out, Laurence Fishburne seemed a lot more like a "Larry" than I expected¾ quick with the witty comebacks and quicker with an explosive laugh on the heels of his own jokes.

In town to promote "Akeelah and the Bee," Fishburne wears the hats of both actor and producer for this heartwarmer about an 11-year-old South Los Angeles girl with a gift for spelling, her hesitant entry into spelling bee competitions, and her relationship with her coach, Dr. Larabee, played by Fishburne.

"I don’t know if there has ever been a movie about an 11-year-old African-American girl," Fishburne speculated. "The fact that this girl is involved in an intellectual sport…a mental sport…I think this is also a good message. Particularly at a time when kids are trying to hide their intelligence and trying to pretend they are not as smart as they are, relying on looks or bling to be popular or accepted into their peer group."

Akeelah is played by Keke Palmer, a newcomer who has obviously earned Fishburne’s respect. Writer/director Doug Atchison, whose script was inspired by watching ESPN’s spelling bee competitions, auditioned 300 girls nationwide for the role. "She (Palmer) is just a brilliant young actress, naturally gifted," he gushed. "Intelligence, instinct, intuition…she’s got her head on her shoulders…she can do anything she wants."

Akeelah’s mom is played by Angela Bassett; marking the third time Bassett and Fishburne have shared the screen. "We really only have one scene together and it is very subdued," Fishburne explained. "Not the fireworks of "What’s Love Got to Do With It" (the Ike and Tina Turner bio) or the combativeness of "Boyz in the Hood"...but we play off each other really well. An electrifying thing happens when we work together...a genie in the bottle thing."

Fishburne’s role as the stoic Dr. Joshua Larabee gave him a chance to play a character with a tad of vulnerability. "That’s what attracted me to the story and it’s a nice surprise for the audience. It was a conscious choice to change the pitch of my voice for this part…my voice is very recognizable as a result of "The Matrix"…I don’t have a formula or technique because I wasn’t trained in a dramatic academy."

"Doing the work," Fishburne smiled, "that is my joy." Never a fan of watching himself onscreen ("I don’t like hearing my own voice… seeing my imperfections") or reading reviews ("they’re not for me but for the public"), Fishburne contended that analyses of his films is not his bag. "I am a deeply sensitive guy. I couldn’t do what I do if I paid attention to that. That’s not for me. The work is for the audience, not for me. I take my joy from actually doing it."

He cited his first big break as a fourteen-year-old in Francis Ford Coppola’s "Apocalypse Now" as a watershed moment. "At the time everyone was saying it would be an American masterpiece, it would blow people’s minds. Well, it was 20 years ahead of its time. Nobody cared when it came out. And that experience has been what I have based my investment in things upon. So if I love something, I am happy to do it and take joy in doing it, and I try not to have any expectation in how the rest of the public is going to appreciate it. I don’t care about reviews. I can’t afford to. I’ve put too much of my heart into it to set myself up for that kind of disappointment."

Fishburne’s lengthy filmography of movies written, directed and produced as well as theatrical stints begs the question: what’s the next challenge?

Fishburne mentioned Clint Eastwood as "a serious role model for me, starting out in the studio system…and growing into himself as an artist." Working under him in the lauded "Mystic River," Fishburne spoke in awe of the multi-talented Eastwood. "If you would have told me 35 years ago that this guy would have become a composer and director and portrayed characters like the sensitive photographer in "Bridges of Madison County", I would have looked at you like you had eighteen heads!"

Clearly, Fishburne relishes his similar path to multi-faceted roles in the film industry. "Writing, directing, producing…all of these things allow me to grow, pushing my limits as an actor...it gives me something to look forward to."

"It would be really important to do some comedy," he said, returning to my original question. "I have a long body of work that is primarily dramatic…but I have to be careful because people have been used to me in a particular kind of role. Right now this mentor character has been running through my work the last ten years."

Without missing a beat, Fishburne cited the career path of Robert DeNiro, another role model for the 44 year-old actor. How "Midnight Run"—an offbeat comedy with Charles Grodin allowed him to "put his feet in the comedy waters," eventually leading the audience to his self-sendup in "Analyze This" and "Meet the Parents."

"He prepared the audience," Fishburne explained, adding that he has "struck up a friendship with comedian George Lopez. His sense of humor appeals to me and he’s someone I’d like to collaborate with."

Fishburne’s head reeled back as he laughed a long guffaw in answer to a question about how he prepares to a role. "That’s a trade secret!" he bellowed, his face glowing with mischief.

Yeah, a comedy would be good….