'Iron Man Changed Everything For Me', Says Robert Downey Jr

Robert Downey Jr has said that playing Iron Man changed his life.

The actor admits that taking on the role of Tony Stark helped him get his film career back on track.

He told the Los Angeles Times: "The first one changed everything for me. And with the second Iron Man there were certain aspects that were dissatisfying and disappointing to me but at least they lit me right.

"[The first one] was a meditation on responsibility and an exploration of how a small group of people can take a two-dimensional idea and, if the winds are right, create something that makes people say, 'That was my favourite movie of the year'."

Downey even spoke about making Tropic Thunder, the 2009 film that earned him an Oscar nomination, saying: "I signed up to do it and then I did Iron Man and I thought, 'You know, I think I just buried myself. I did a movie that is going to re-establish me here in a little way and now I'm going to squander any goodwill I have'.

"This movie ended up being the most cathartic thing I had done in ages and one of the happiest times in my life."

Downey is currently shooting the Marvel ensemble piece The Avengers, which is due for release on May 4, 2012.