Jonah Hill desperately wanted to be like rapper Eminem when he was younger.

The 28-year-old actor plays an undercover police officer that goes into a high school in upcoming movie 21 Jump Street.

And he says that playing the role has reminded him of his own student days and what he did to try and look like his idol.

"I had bleached hair," Jonah told Parade. "I wanted to be Eminem really badly!"

Jonah also revealed that he wish he could be a student again as he would do things differently.

"I would have done theatre," he revealed. "I probably would have met more like-minded people, although all my friends are from high school, but I was scared they would make fun of me if I did theatre.

"And I probably would have met a really nice girl because she would like that I was sensitive."

Jonah co-stars with Channing Tatum in the anticipated movie adaptation of the 80s television series and says he is convinced they would have been pals if they knew each other in high school.

"We are from very different places," Jonah said. "But we have very similar morals on friendship."

"I've rarely gotten along with someone as well as this guy. We hang out all the time.

"Last night, I was like, I miss Chan. I haven't seen him in a few hours.' He was in the same hotel, and I wanted to see what he was up to!"