British actor Clive Owen is seen in this September 25, 2006 file photo in Berlin. Owen portrays a man living in London during a dark period in the new science fiction movie "Children of Men" but in real life he loves living there, enjoying its culture and diversity.. Photo Credit: REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

By Bob Tourtellotte

LOS ANGELES (Reuters Life!) - British actor Clive Owen portrays a man living in London during a dark period in the new science fiction movie "Children of Men" but in real life he loves living there, enjoying its culture and diversity.

"Children of Men" debuts in the United States on December 22, and as Reuters found out in a recent interview, Owen, 42, will either be holed up in his home with his wife and two young daughters or taking his family out to the theater.

Q: You could live anywhere, but you choose to stay in London.

A: "There's no reason for me to move anywhere. My kids are very settled in school. All our friends and family are in London...I have to travel a lot, back and forth to America, but I'd rather do that than leave London because I love London".

Q: What makes it a great city?

A: "It's such a huge, rich, cultural melting pot. There are a few cities like it around the world. I come from a small town, and I remember when I came to London to go to drama school, it felt hugely liberating, culturally. It was so rich, and that is what it is for me."

Q: The holidays are coming around, and when I think of London, I think of Charles Dickens and Ebenezer Scrooge and "A Christmas Carol," but what is the city like over the holidays?

A: "It is great. There's something nice about being places that are cold at Christmas. I've spent Christmases in warm climates and it doesn't feel right. But it's not as romantic as New York. I spent a really memorable couple of days in New York in December once with my family. We did the full tour, skated Central Park, went to Broadway. We just did two days of one of the most memorable lovely family times."

Q: What other fond memories do you have of Christmas -- let's say growing up -- that you would like to share with your kids as they get older?

A: "I love it when it snows at Christmas. I don't know whether it's global warming or what it is, but I do remember Christmas holidays when I was younger where it snowed, and there's always something pretty and lovely about that."

Q: How do you and your family celebrate the holiday?

A: "Well, it's the whole period, really. Just before Christmas Eve, everything shuts down and it doesn't get going again until after the New Year. It's a very lovely, down time with the family. For me, it's just all about hanging out with them, and the kids have a great time."

Q: Do you get up early and play Santa Claus?

A: "Yeah, we do all of that."

Q: And what do your children want Santa to bring this year?

A: "Well, they just started to make a few lists. I'm not sure exactly what they decided, yet."

Q: And when you're at home, I'd guess you watch movies around the holidays. Most families do. What are some holiday films you and your family like to watch during the season?

A: "It's a Wonderful Life," that's a classic. "The Wizard of Oz" is always on. And we tend to go to the theater a bit over the period in London. They have a wonderful kids show that they bring back every year of "The Snowman" from that original book and cartoon. Some of the Christmas shows are really lovely in London, so we tend to do a bit of that, as well."