As the lead singer of The Headstones, Hugh Dillon became Canada’s first homegrown, home-ground rock star. He was the portrait of the artist as an angry young man. But Dillon’s anger was cool. And it produced some amazing music as well as some great sound bites. “No bullshit” would almost become his mantra when talking to press about his band, his music and now, as he becomes one of Canada’s major television and film stars, about his performances.

“What makes this album special?” someone would ask. “No bullshit.” “Do you think you’ll be able to reach a larger audience?” “Who cares?” And he’s on to the next interview.

Director Bruce McDonald cast Dillon as the lead in his ode to rock 'n' roll, Hard Core Logo, giving the rocker his start in film. Since then, he's has become the star of several television series, including Flashpoint and more recently Durham County.

Dillon met with TORO in a ceiling-to-carpet-windowed room on the 16th floor of the Corus Entertainment head office. The view of Lake Ontario is stunning but it gives way to his presence. Even after a full day of cameras and press, he’s up for conversation. There's no mohawk like there used to be. Mike Sweeney, the detective he plays on Durham County, is bald. But he owns this new style, the same way he's owned everything in his career, even the setbacks. This is him. No bullshit.