Shia LaBeouf's hot, and he's caught Spielberg's eye

LOS ANGELES - When Shia LaBeouf hits the mall or grocery store, he's more likely to get recognized by fans of the Disney Channel TV series "Even Stevens" or the 2003 family comedy "Holes" than for his roles in adult films such as "Constantine" or "I, Robot."

That may change soon, if Steven Spielberg has anything to do with it. The director's seal of approval helped LaBeouf get the lead role in "Disturbia," a suburban thriller that opens today, which in turn helped him land the top human role in "The Transformers," Michael Bay's mega-budget sci-fi film opening in July.

The 20-year-old Los Angeles native talked to the Daily News about his rising celebrity status, why he avoids the Hollywood club scene, and all those Indiana Jones rumors.

Q: What's this about you and David Morse clashing on the set of "Disturbia"?

A: He didn't talk to me for two months. He's a method actor and in his own world. We weren't on good grounds. The only time [he spoke to me] was during our fight scenes, and that was just to say, 'This is going to be bad; you should duck.' It wasn't intentional. He didn't go out of his way not to talk to me.

Q: Care to address reports that you've been tapped to play Harrison Ford's son in the fourth installment of the Indiana Jones movies?

A: It's a rumor. I'm a loudmouth - if I have a contract, I will tell you. I have not had a conversation [about it]. I've never read for the role. I've not had the meeting. I was also rumored to be in "Superman Begins" playing Jimmie Olsen and then that didn't happen.

Q: What was it like working with Michael Bay on "The Transformers"?

A: It was crazy. The way Bay works, he goes to such lengths to put his actors in situations that are dangerous [to get] their response. You can easily go to green screen and fake me being on the Orpheum Theatre [in Los Angeles] blowing the roof up and hanging by one hand while my feet are on fire. But he actually took us to the Orpheum Theatre, blew it up and lit my feet on fire. You show up to the set and the work's done for you. You just have to respond.

Q: As a fan of the "Transformers" franchise, did you ever try to give Bay advice?

A: You don't do that on a Bay set. You know your position right away. You gotta understand, he's General Patton - the dude's moving the troops. He doesn't have time to explain to you where you're coming from.

Q: Do you hit the club scene like so many other rising stars of your age group?

A: Clubs are so lame. Nobody even dances at these clubs. They stand around and get drunk and they schmooze. There is no enjoyment factor. You get so many invites . . . partying has never interested me. My dad was a drug addict. There's something about watching your dad go through heroin withdrawal when you're 11. It's not interesting anymore. I'm not individualizing this. There are lots of kids that deal with this. I'm an '80s baby; that's what was going on.

Q. You've been working since you were 10. What do you do for fun?

A. Sports is so big in my life. It's the only time I don't have to think. Also movies. In a weekend I'll watch five films. It sounds kind of pretentious, like I don't do stupid teenage things, but I do that, too. I go bowling. I love video games. I'm 20 years old. There's temptation all over the place. You just gotta know what kind of temptation you can handle. I have vices. I smoke cigarettes. I'm not like the spokesperson for how to be a teen. I'm living through it, trying to figure it out. *