Alec Baldwin: 'I'm quitting acting'

Alec Baldwin has told a US magazine that he considers his entire film career to be a failure and that he plans to retire from the industry shortly.

In a startling interview published in the December issue of Men's Journal, the 51-year-old actor said, "I don't have any interest in acting anymore."

Baldwin, who was Oscar-nominated for his role in Wayne Kramer's offbeat 2003 romance The Cooler, is no stranger to critical and box-office kudos: he was praised for his performances in films such as Martin Scorsese's The Departed and The Aviator, and David Mamet's State and Main. Recently, he has been a huge hit in the award-winning TV comedy 30 Rock.

He is also being tipped for another bite at the Oscars cherry next February, for his role as a man who attempts to win back his ex-wife in Nancy Meyers's relationship comedy It's Complicated. Baldwin is co-hosting the ceremony with co-star Steve Martin.

All told, it seems a strange moment to be calling time on a glittering career, but Baldwin says he no longer loves his job.

"Movies are a part of my past. It's been 30 years. I'm not young, but I have time to do something else," he said.

"I consider my entire movie career a complete failure," Baldwin added. "The goal of movie-making is to star in a film where your performance drives the film, and the film is either a soaring critical or commercial success, and I never had that."

"And now, the movies I've been in, I never give them a moment's thought," he added. "Every movie I've ever been in, I just avoid."

It's not the first time Baldwin has signalled his intention to quit acting. He told Playboy magazine earlier this year that he would retire at the wrap party for 30 Rock in 2012. The actor has previously stated an interest in politics, but did not discuss his future options in the interview.