The 5-minute Interview: Harry Connick Jnr, Musician and actor

'Directions? I just don't know where the hell I am most of the time'

The New Orleans jazz musician Harry Connick Jnr, 40, got his big break in 1989 with the music score for the romantic comedy ' When Harry Met Sally'. He has sold more than 20 million albums, appeared in several Hollywood films, and had a regular role in the television show ' Will and Grace'. His new album, ' My New Orleans', is out today.

If I weren't talking to you right now, I'd be...

Probably hanging with my wife somewhere here in Massachusetts.

A phrase I use far too often...

Y'know.

I wish people would take more notice of...

The orchestrations on my records, but honestly I don't really pay too much attention to what people don't take notice of.

The most surprising thing that happened to me was...

My wife saying yes when I asked her to marry me. We had a very big wedding ceremony in New Orleans and have been married for 14 years now.

A common misperception of me is...

A lot of people think I'm a musician but don't realise I'm also an actor. Or vice versa. They're always surprised when they find out I do both.

I am not a politician but...

I'd definitely do more to help out the situation in New Orleans. I think more attention still needs to be paid to the city to get it back in shape.

I'm good at...

Being a dad. I have three children, all girls aged 11, 10 and five, and I love being a dad. I don't think we'll have more but you can never say never.

I'm very bad at...

Directions. Giving them, receiving them – I just don't know where the hell I am most of the time. I'm not one of those guys who if asked for directions that I don't know, will give them anyway, regardless of whether they're right. I just have no idea.

The ideal night out is...

An evening with my wife, or a night out with the kids – it doesn't really matter where. We like going for dinner and having time to talk, but we also go to concerts, shows, ball games, anywhere we can spend quality time together.

In weak moments I...

Eat. I'm normally really health conscious but I'll have occasions where I just eat anything. Pizza, any kind of junk food.

You know me as a musician and actor but in a truer life I'd have been...

I'd be a good music teacher and I enjoy being around young people. Who knows, maybe I'll do it when I'm older. I could even start my own school.

The best age to be is...

Right now I'm 40 and I have to say it's a good time. Now is the happiest I've ever been.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this:

Just to treat people well, be on time and work hard. Oh, and play hard too.

Amy Salter