Stiller Flew To The U.K To Recruit Coogan

BEN STILLER was so desperate to work with funnyman STEVE COOGAN he flew to Britain to offer him a job.

Coogan stars in Stiller's movie Tropic of Thunder and has since been hired for the U.S. comedian's next project Night at the Museum 2.

And Coogan confesses Stiller was so keen to work with him, he tracked him down to his native Britain.

The 42-year-old says, "He tracked me down in Britain, told me he was a huge fan, and said he wanted me to be part of his creative life, and now we're doing Night at the Museum 2 together.

"Doing Tropic Thunder was great fun, but he's a very tough director. When he's directing, he can be a bit of a bastard, but in the nicest possible way."