Admired by millions for more than his impressive acting career, Tom Hanks needs little introduction. He started performing as a high school student in Oakland, California, and has appeared in such memorable films as Splash, A League of Their Own, Philadelphia, Forrest Gump and The Green Mile.

This year Hanks reached two milestones – his AFI Life Achievement Award and his starring role in Road to Perdition, a dark film in which he plays a character totally different from his well-known image. About that image, Hanks said, "You can't change an image. Somebody called me an assassin with a heart of gold (in Perdition). The only thing that matters is the tangible connection that the audience makes with a movie when they see it."

Hanks makes a connection not only with his audience but also with his fellow actors. His awards fill pages, their presentation backed by comments from peers. Filmmaker Ron Howard, who worked with Hanks in Splash and Apollo 13, claims Hanks’ storytelling instincts have proven remarkable. And Robert Zemeckis, director of Forrest Gump, says, "When he (Hanks) performs, he always looks for the truth, and he hooks his performance on the human truth in the character."

Hanks delivers that truth again with his dark character in Road to Perdition, a 1931-era story of fathers and sons from two different families whose future is determined by their complex relationship. He portrays Michael Sullivan, a no-nonsense hit man for the Irish mob. Can viewers accept Hanks as a villain? "The idea of playing a total villain just to be the antagonist to the protagonist is boring," he stated. "Even Iago has all these motivations for doing what he’s doing. This guy (in Perdition) is just a family man. Look at that family. He doesn't come home and play ball with the kids. That is the darkest, scariest, most dysfunctional house you've ever seen."

Besides receiving respect from other actors, Hanks can also give it. He was totally in awe of Paul Newman while working with him. "On our first scene together, there was a moment when I just walked into the shot, and we looked at each other in the eyes. The first take was like, ‘I'm looking at Paul Newman in the eyes, on the movie, and now I've got to go get in a car with Paul Newman in a movie.’ I had a little bit of an out of body experience there, but that was the only one. He's a great example of how to live your life both on the set and off as well."

So how does Hanks feel about receiving a life achievement award at the age of 46? "I think it's criminal," he said with a big "Woody" smile, obviously pleased about the award.

"But maybe you’ll get two," I replied.

"Now you've laid the challenge before me," he tossed back.

If anyone can do it, it’s Tom Hanks.