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No Jack Bauer: Terrified Kiefer Sutherland

Nov 4, 2008, 10:10 GMT

FOX series "24" is poised to be ratings smasher upon its return in January. 24 star Kiefer Sutherland. / PR Photos

Kiefer Sutherland is scared of "almost everything".

The 41-year-old actor - who plays action hero Jack Bauer in hit US TV series '24' - admits he is the complete opposite of alter-ego, and is even frightened of the sea.

Kiefer said: "When I was a child I was pretty much afraid of everything and still am to some extent. I remember being afraid of my mother being mad at me, I got hit by a wave in the ocean and got pushed under so I was scared of that for a minute. There is a certain irony to me playing Jack Bauer - a real tough guy."

This is not the first time Kiefer has confessed his tough guy image is a facade.

He recently revealed he was so scared when the shark appeared in Disney movie 'Finding Nemo' that he jumped and spilled his popcorn.

The actor - who has three stepchildren and one biological daughter from his two failed marriages - added he was amazed by how frightening the film was.

He said: "If I go to see a horror movie, you wouldn't hear giggles, you would hear the gasps. I kind of suspend my disbelief and really open up which makes me a prime target for fear.

"I remember I was with my daughter at 'Finding Nemo', which is a children's cartoon, and suddenly this shark comes up trying to eat the fish. It just startled me and my popcorn went flying. My daughter was like, 'Oh dad, that's not even the scary part yet!' "