Shia LaBeouf once boasted that the "Hilary Duff o'door was open." But he wasn't stepping through it, no sirree.

	Shia LaBeouf has appeared in a wide variety of films ... Click photo for larger image.

Rotating among tables of writers at Toronto's Four Seasons Hotel in 2005 to promote "The Greatest Game Ever Played," he said he had no problem turning down big paychecks if they came with the wrong projects.

"Believe me, that Hilary Duff o'door was open. Oh, absolutely. How many times I've been offered that stupid garbage; I could have been a big millionaire, had a really nice bed, a really nice house and laid in my bed and never be able to sleep. I wouldn't respect myself."

LaBeouf, who won a 2002 Daytime Emmy for playing Louis Stevens on the Disney Channel's "Even Stevens," landed on moviegoers' radar with "Holes." Released in April 2003, "Holes" was based on the popular award-winning children's novel by Louis Sachar.

LaBeouf played Stanley Yelnats IV, latest heir to an ancient family curse. After being falsely accused of stealing a pair of celebrity sneakers, he is sent to Camp Green Lake, located in the middle of a Texas desert. The juvenile inmates spend their days digging holes at the behest of the warden and overseer, played by Sigourney Weaver and Jon Voight.

The young actor later appeared in "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle," "The Battle of Shaker Heights," "I, Robot," "Constantine," "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" and "Bobby."

While publicizing "The Greatest Game," in which he portrayed upstart golfer Francis Ouimet, LaBeouf drew a distinction between personalities and actors.

... including "Holes," 2003. Click photo for larger image.

"Actors, it takes a little more work, a little more time to find roles that you want to do. I didn't work at all last year. I was offered 12 films, and I turned them all down. Big money films. I could have been getting paid, chillin' in Tahiti and having a great time, but I would have hated myself afterward."

His strategy is paying off. Now, he may have the big paychecks, the respect (both self and critical) and the name recognition -- not bad for an actor who can't even legally drink. He turns 21 on Monday, and he can hoist a glass of champagne or imported beer if "Surf's Up" does well this weekend.

This is shaping up as the spring and summer of Shia:

"Disturbia," starring the actor as a teen on house arrest who suspects a neighbor is a killer, arrived in theaters April 13, a lucky Friday. A teen take on "Rear Window," it debuted at No. 1 with $23 million at the box office, and since then topped $75 million.

The day after "Disturbia" opened, LaBeouf hosted "Saturday Night Live" and confirmed he will appear in the fourth "Indiana Jones" movie being directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Harrison Ford.

In "Surf's Up," he speaks for a teenage Rockhopper penguin who enters his first pro surfing competition. Its co-stars include Jeff Bridges, and LaBeouf said, "Sitting with Jeff Bridges, first of all, is a trip, but sitting with Jeff Bridges talking about how to be a penguin is insane." But cool.

On July 3, LaBeouf will star in "Transformers," a Michael Bay movie based on Hasbro's action figures. The release date, originally July 4, was bumped up this week.

His co-stars will include Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Anthony Anderson, Megan Fox, Rachael Taylor, John Turturro and Jon Voight. LaBeouf's character holds the Earth's last chance for survival -- and theater owners' hopes for a happy holiday week -- in his hands.