Micky Rourke returns with a hit

Mickey Rourke (pictured), the hell-raising actor who appeared a few years ago to have squandered his talent and career on a riot of drink and drugs, has made a triumphant return with his latest film, The Wrestler, which has won the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion for best picture. The movie, directed by Darren Aronofsky, casts Rourke, 51, in the role of an ageing wrestler on the slide, Randy 'The Ram' Robinson, who is warned that one more fight could kill him.

Many believe the award could see a renaissance in Rourke's career. Having lit up the screen with electrifying performances in Eighties box-office hits such as Diner, Angel Heart and Nine-and-a-Half Weeks, he ended up out of work for 15 years. At one point he decided to compete as a professional boxer, at which he experienced measured success.

According to the actor, Aronofsky stipulated certain conditions before handing him the part. "He was brutally honest," said Rourke of the director. "He sat there and said, 'You're a great actor but you messed up your career and no one wants to hire you. I have a film I want to do with you. But you have to listen to me, you must never disrespect me, you can't go out every night - and I can't pay you either."