JTimberlake091210_01_X17.jpgJustin Timberlake has been working hard to make the transition from singer to actor over the past few years, but feels like his biggest struggle is trying to assure people that he's "not an a**hole!'

"There is a stigma that comes from being on stage and being a musician," the star told Amanda Seyfried during their chat for Interview magazine. "What’s been more of a battle for me throughout the process of moving into acting is that I feel like I have to keep reassuring people that I’m not an a**hole," Timberlake said.

Justin hasn't released an album since 2006's FutureSex/LoveSounds (although he's made several guest appearances on singles by other artists) but has worked steadily in films since then with parts in Black Snake Moan, The Love Guru, The Social Network and the upcoming movies The Bad Teacher, Friends With Benefits and Now.

But Justin is used to handling criticism. "Whatever you do as a musician, no matter how good it is, somebody somewhere is going to sh*t on it," he said. "You put your heart on your sleeve, and what will happen will happen."

But Timberlake says he's found a way to deal with it by just not focusing on the negative. "I actually find it liberating to give up control," he said to his younger co-star.

Although Justin is not nominated for his performance in The Social Network, the film is up for best picture, actor, director, adapted screenplay, cinematography, film editing, soundtrack and sound mixing.