Decked out in pony-skin pants, Gucci shoes, a Versace shirt, a rhinestone-studded do-rag and Got Rocks shades, LL Cool J is a far cry from drab mechanic Ray Bud, the character he plays in the new movie “Kingdom Come.”

“I will do anything for a movie,” says the hip-hop heartthrob, whose wardrobe for the film amounted to a button-down work shirt and pants. “I’ll even shave my eyebrows.”

Looks, he says, should not be a concern when an actor takes on a role. “You can’t always be as cute as you could be, no matter how super cute you are to begin with.”

But off-screen, the rapper known as Ladies Love Cool James is way beyond cute, with a smart sense of humor and sexy attitude that is as bling-bling – a rap term that means flashy – as his diamond earrings, belt, bracelet, necklace and rings.

It all began in Queens, where a 13-year-old James Todd Smith produced homemade demos on some deejay equipment he got for his birthday. Three years later, Def Jam records released his first album, “I Need a Beat,” which sold 100,000 copies.

He has since recorded nine hip-hop albums, and his hit songs include “Goin’ Back to Cali,” “Momma Said Knock You Out,” “Back Seat of My Jeep” and “Doin’ It.” He has also starred in a number of movies, among them “Wildcats,” “Toys,” “Deep Blue Sea,” “Any Given Sunday” and “Charlie’s Angels.”

In addition to “Kingdom Come,” which hits theaters Wednesday, the 5-foot-11 superstar will appear in the remake of the ’70s classic “Rollerball,” with Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and Chris Klein this summer.

The 32-year-old Grammy Award-winner is also scouting talent for his own music production company, Rock the Bells, which will focus on what he calls a new “nice musical sound” called “pop-hop soul.”

Q: What’s your personal style?

A: Look, feel, vibe. Look good, feel good. That’s what it’s about for me. There are no boundaries to my clothing. I don’t feel like I have to look a certain way to be accepted in any certain circle. But at the same time, I feel comfortable in everything – in a great suit, in some jeans and Timberlands and a do-rag. I feel comfortable any direction.

Q: What about all the jewels?

A: I like to use [jewelers] Tito and Jacob a lot down in the Diamond District. And a lot of times, if I’m in Europe, I just go to different jewelry stores. It doesn’t necessarily have to be Cartier or Tiffany’s or Bulgari. I go more for things that are special to me and things that just look cool.

Q: Where do you shop?

A: I have a stylist, Monica, who goes out and gets the stuff for me when I have something special coming up. And I just pick what I like. She brings it over to the house, we smooth out, feel the vibe and check out everything. I also have a few tailors I use. Sharrif made these pants.

Q: Who are some of your favorite designers?

A: Fubu would be first. I really like Versace. Hugo Boss has some great suits. Gucci and DKNY are nice. It sounds almost cliché, the names I’m saying. But it’s true – they really make great clothes. On another level, I think Ms. Got Rocks (their lady’s line) is incredible. After that, there’s so many clothes that I like and it doesn’t have to be a designer I’ve heard of. I’m not a person that just hawks on names. I wear what I like. You can run on up in the Gap and find something real cool. It isn’t going to be as dressy, but you can find nice stuff in there.

Q: What would you never wear?

A: Spandex. Unless it’s a film and there’s a character or something, then I’ll think about it. But in my personal life, I cannot do spandex.

Q: How do you stay in shape?

A: Push-ups, exercise, light weights, running, calisthenics. I haven’t worked out in a while because I got my appendix taken out. But for the most part, I run about 3 miles, lift some light weights, do some sit-ups, a little boxing, drink a lot of water and take vitamins.

Q: Do you diet?

A: I don’t eat pork, because I don’t want to wake up at 50 with high blood pressure. I don’t use extra salt. But everything else I pretty much eat. I just don’t overdo it, like with steaks. I try to eat pretty good. I love seafood, but every now and then I will have a Whopper and not feel guilty about it.

Q: What do you wear when you’re relaxing around the house?

A: I wear polka-dot pajama bottoms, with a T-shirt, with big, floppy dog-ear slippers and bandannas. Or I like the Calvin fitted boxer briefs. It’s according to what I’m feeling.

Q: Do you have a favorite body product?

A: I like peppermint Castille soap. It looks like it’s industrial, in terms of the packaging. But it makes me feel good.