Danny Trejo’s tough exterior landed him parts in “Heat,” “Desperado;” and many films. He has overcome the perils of growing up on the mean streets of L.A. And now he stars as a drug cartel enforcer in “Predators” (in theaters) and the lead in “Machete” (September 3rd).

More on “Machete” later; here’s the first of an exclusive two-part interview

Part 1: ‘PREDATORS’

Although “Predators” was created as a sequel to the original 1987 “Predator,” there are some key differences. For one thing, “Predators” is set on an alien planet. The eight humans who have been brought to the planet are all Alpha personalities and cold-blooded killers; the storyline focuses on their survival and sacrifice. Starring alongside Danny is Oscar-winner Adrien Brody.

Despite his penchant for being cast as a hardened criminal, Danny Trejo is in reality a compassionate individual who contributes a great deal to the community. In addition to running a canine rescue program with his wife, he is also a drug counselor. He is an inspiration to young Latinos everywhere, much in the same way he describes his character in “Machete”: a hardworking guy who is essentially a hero.

HOMBRE: You’ve been acting for a while. How did you get your start?
Danny Trejo: By accident! A friend of mine called me for help with something, and I wound up having to meet him at the set of ”Runaway Train.“ It turned out they needed to cast a boxer, and I was there so they gave me the role.

H: So it’s not something you ever thought about doing before?
DT: No. Growing up, you tend to gravitate toward whatever is around you. I was surrounded by drugs and dealers; movies weren’t really around me.

H: Are you a big fan of the first “Predator”?
DT: Yea, but the new movie “Predators” is different in that it isn’t so much about muscles as it is about brains. There’s more strategy involved.

H:Tell us a bit about your character in this movie, “Predators“.
DT: He’s pretty bad ass; for the most part, he‘s a human predator. Pretty much everyone being hunted in the movie is a cold-blooded killer.

H: There are several different types of predators in this movie, whereas in the first Predator there’s only one. Do you think that will make this movie a bit creepier?
DT: I think so. What’s interesting about this movie is that the predators are in the form of different animals. There are dog predators, for example.

H: The filming took place in Austin, Texas and in Hawaii. What was it like filming in Hawaii?
DT: Our days off were beautiful, of course- it’s Hawaii! But the days we were actually filming were extremely difficult. We were in Hilo, where it’s volcanic and roots grow on top of roots. It was almost impossible to walk.

H: I know you’ve done quite a few films with Robert Rodriguez. What was it like working with Nimrod Antal as a director?
DT: One of the great things about Robert is the way he understands how to utilize time and get things done. Nimrod is one of those guys who has read Robert’s book and knows how to do this, besides being a really good director.

H: Is there any advice you can give to those striving to overcome obstacles in their lives and follow in your footsteps?
DT: The problem with a lot of people is they tend to aim low. I always tell people that I’d rather aim for the moon and miss than aim for the gutter and make it.