Vinnie Jones: ‘My career flew off the rails. The wheels were going. There wasn’t a spare seat!’

The footballer-turned-movie hard man is back, starring in a new Footsoldier film. He talks about how his film and TV career exploded and refinding his dignity

I am, obviously, scared of Vinnie Jones. Even though he is calling from New York, 3,000 miles and five hours away, I keep expecting him to click his neck three times and pull me into a breathless headlock. But instead, he is sleepy and then charming, and doesn't threaten to kick my face in once.

He is sleepy because he was up until 2.30am shooting Law & Order: Organized Crime, in which he appears in the recurring role of Albanian gangster Albi. Going toe-to-toe with Christopher Meloni," he smiles, a legend in the acting world."