Toy Story 3: From caped crusader to living doll

Michael Keaton joins the Toy Story 3 voice cast as Ken - the would-be beau of Barbie, the Mattel doll first created in 1959.

Playing the "swinging bachelor" he gets to enjoy a vast array of fashion-forward - and backward - outfits, dancing, and of course, Barbie.

Keaton, 58, is most remembered for his role as Batman in the superhero's first blockbuster - and who, of course, has long been an action figurine in many a toybox. He recalls the moment when he was asked to voice the famed crotch-less character.

"When Pixar rang and said they'd like me to play Ken, the phone literally fell out of my hand. I started to laugh, I don't know why, but I thought it was really funny," he smiles. "But nothing shocks me anymore in terms of roles I've been asked to do."

As one of seven brothers, Keaton was in unfamiliar territory with the idea of being a dress-up doll.

"I showed the people from Pixar my hotpants," he jokes. "I have to say none of my brothers and I ever wore anything like that. I think where I come from, and I'm not saying this is a great thing by the way, but if I had played with a Ken doll, I would have been beaten severely. I did have a collection of soldiers, cowboys and Indians, but if they weren't realistic to me and didn't look like they'd been in an actual war, I would burn them and paint blood on their faces. It's a different approach than Ken."

Keaton has been off Hollywood's radar for some time. He did a stint in Post Grad last year, and will be in the upcoming The Other Guys, but for the most part, he doesn't take everything that's offered to him.

"There's a few answers for that. I got bored, and I know that sounds too superior but I thought I was just repeating myself," he explains.

"I'm picky to a fault about what I do, and probably should have done some things that I didn't do. But I was raising a son (Sean, now 27), sharing the responsibilities with his mum. He lived with me half the time, so I just chose not to go away and make certain movies."

Keaton has an interesting take on his movie star career. "Alan Arkin told me one time, 'I always preferred to have a big life, and a good career, as opposed to a big career and an okay life'," and I took his advice."

On a lighter note, does Keaton remember the last time he played with a toy? He laughs."I do, but I'd had a bottle of tequila before that, so I don't think it counts."