(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Forest Whitaker will only play roles which are truthful.

The American star has appeared in a host of big name movies such as The Last King of Scotland, but has also taken roles in TV series such as ER and The Shield. His latest part sees him portray Sam Cooper in Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, a spin-off of the hit American television show Criminal Minds.

Sam is a good guy, which is one of the reasons Forest was excited by the role. He only takes on characters which is finds interesting, and believes Sam who leads a team at the FBI's Behavioural Analysis Unit is one of the best.

I have a discipline about trying to do work that is truthful," he explained. "I was always fortunate enough to play interesting characters, and I've always gone by my heart.

Although Forest, 49, has appeared in television programmes before, helming a series is something hes thought deeply about. He is used to playing people in movies and then moving on to the next job, and knows his latest project will take some getting used to.

I'm not used to being in just one place I'm more like a gypsy, going from place to place. But I really like this character and I realised what I could do with him, he told the Los Angeles Times.

It was a challenge at first trying to find that rhythm with the writers that would make me feel good. We've really developed that now, it feels good. (C) Cover Media