"In every aspect of his life, he embraced everything and believed that even the bad things led to the good things in his music. So now, every day I wake up I put a list of all the good things in my life on top and the bad things on the bottom. I think, 'I can see, I can move, I have my family. I have all these great things'."
But, unlike his alter ego, who was a notorious womaniser, Jamie insists he is an incurable romantic - so much so he reckons he makes the 'best boyfriend in the world'.
"I'm a Southern gentleman. I bring her flowers. I'm the greatest boyfriend," he grins..
Lucky Leila Arcieri who has been dating Jamie for a year and whom he describes as his soulmate. "What's cool about Leila is she likes to talk a lot of trash. She's funny. I like funny women and she's not dumb," he says of the 31--year-old actress.
And though, the actor, who has a 10-year-old daughter by a previous relationship, admits he's completely settled with Leila he has no imminent marriage plans. He's far too busy relishing every moment of his newfound success - including that growing Oscar buzz.
"I want to be nominated for them all. The Oscar, the Emmy and the Grammy," he says flashing the kind of grin that would make even the exuberant Ray Charles look subdued.
