PHONE BOOTH star Colin Farrell has been fighting a secret battle with insomnia since childhood - but at least the condition helps him learn his lines.

The Irish hunk, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise to stardom in Hollywood, has never been able to sleep through the night - but has learnt to enjoy the anti-social hours.

He explains, "Ever since I can remember, as far back as when I was 10 or 12 years old, I never slept much. But the small hours by myself are lovely moments for me - the hours between midnight and three in the morning.

"I listen to music, read a script - think. Or I might cook a steak, have a couple of beers and think about the day's work that has passed or the day's work to come."

29/05/2003 21:08