TORONTO -- Focus co-stars a fellow you might know as Meat Loaf, playing Fred, a neighbour who falls in with an anti-Semitic gang of thugs. And while he's billed in the movie as Meat Loaf Aday, yesterday was his debut as Michael Lee Aday.

"The studio (Paramount Classics) insisted I keep my name as Meat Loaf," the Loafster said yesterday.

Seems they wanted whatever star power they could get. However, he was billed as Michael Lee Aday at yesterday's presser and vows to remain so throughout his film career.

"I'm a very confused person 'cause I've been called Meat all my life. But that other guy (Meat Loaf) is a character," he says. "I'd be appalled if I thought people were thinking about him when they saw me onscreen."

Not to worry, though. Meat Loaf will return in March, when he releases his new album Testament.