Jackson plays a kilt-wearing master chemist

He travels to Liverpool to pull off what should be an uncomplicated $20m (�14m) drug deal but runs into trouble with a local criminal played by Robert Carlyle, a sexy hit-girl, played by Emily Mortimer, and a corrupt policeman played by Sean Pertwee.

The project brought a large British cast including Ricky Tomlinson and Michael Starky.

They feature with American stars Jackson, Meatloaf and Chinese director Ronny Yu while co-financing came from Canada to make a movie set in Merseyside.

Jackson also took on producing duties after reading the script.

"I fell in love with the script because I've always wanted to do a British gangster film," Jackson said.

"This was unique in that my character is a fish out of water in the Liverpool scene instead of the London scene, which is slightly more quirky."

Football

By the time filming started in Liverpool Jackson understood more fully how like a fish out of water an American star could feel in England.

"I drove myself around Liverpool a lot," he said. "And after about two days of driving into oncoming traffic I got used to it. The only thing I didn't get used to was buying petrol.

I just watched these guys kick the ball out of bounds for an hour and a half

Samuel L Jackson on Liverpool versus Romania

"The first time I filled my car up I thought something was wrong with the pump. I looked at it and it said �70.

"But I stopped going to the petrol station and got red gas from a gangster friend in Liverpool instead."

As football features in the film, Jackson was taken to Anfield to understand the beautiful game - something else he didn't get used to.

"The first football match I went to was Liverpool versus a Romanian team," he recalled.

"That was the worst example of football anyone could have taken me to because I didn't know that Liverpool didn't have to score.

"So I just watched these guys kick the ball out of bounds for an hour and a half."

Travolta

As a golfing in enthusiast in the film and in real life, Jackson enjoyed plenty of practice on British courses.

"I played most of the courses in Liverpool and I'd take the ferry over to Ireland and also go up to Scotland. But I was up in Scotland recently and it was raining sideways."

Travolta starred with Jackson in Pulp Fiction

He should be feeling more comfortable soon, though.

His next project reunites him with his Pulp Fiction co-star John Travolta, though he's quick to dismiss rumours that the pair will be re-visiting their on-screen partnership.

"I'll tell you a secret about that: I'm not real sure our characters see each other in this movie," he said.

"The last time I read the script we didn't, so it's kind of misleading to say 'Jackson and Travolta back together again'. We are in the same movie together but I don't think I see his character once in the whole movie."

This will probably suit Jackson as he admitted to constantly being reminded of his iconic turn as Jules in Pulp Fiction.

"Not a day goes by without someone asking me what you call a Royale with cheese in France," he said.

The 51st State goes on general UK release on 7 December.