He plays the invincible, irresistible vampire with a soul on the WB series “Angel,” but in real life, David Boreanaz is not so unflappable: He’s terrified by chickens and birds.

“They’re too unpredictable, clucky and voodoo-esque,” says the half-Italian, half-Czech actor. “I was in a day-care farm at the age of 4 and a rooster was chasing me around, and it scared the hell out of me.”

The 29-year-old Boreanaz (pronounced Bor-ee-AH-nuz) was no chicken when it came to chasing his Hollywood dream. After graduating from Ithaca College, he drove straight to L.A. from his hometown of Philadelphia.

Once there, the 6-foot-1-inch heartthrob promptly began paying his dues, selling gourmet food door to door, parking cars, cleaning toilets on set locations and handing out towels at a gym – while filming a few commercials and doing some plays.

His first break was in a 1993 episode of “Married . . . With Children,” in which he played Christina Applegate’s biker beau. But it wasn’t until a fateful walk with his dog, Bertha Blue, in 1997, that the hard-bodied hottie was spotted by a talent agent.

Soon, Boreanaz was co-starring in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” as Buffy’s buff, bloodsucking boyfriend. Two years later, he was given his own spin-off, “Angel.” The spiky-haired stud – who’s featured in the March issue of Maxim – also stars in the movie “Valentine,” now in theaters, opposite Denise Richards and Katherine Heigl.

Q: How does it feel to be a Hollywood heartthrob?

A: I don’t feel anything like that. I do my work, and that’s it.

Q: What was your scariest fan experience?

A: You have some that are way out there. There is one stalker woman who keeps sending me gifts and articles of clothing – wacky stuff like shoes, lingerie and all different weird things.

Q: What makes an ideal woman?

A: Someone who’s smart, confident, has a great walk, knows how to hold herself and loves the color red. Someone very ethereal, down to earth and poetic, with a kind of mysterious touch about herself. It’s more of an inward than outward thing. But physically, I would like someone very curvy, with great legs and great eyes.

Q: What was the most romantic thing you ever did for a woman?

A: I listened. That can be very romantic for a woman.

Q: If you could live forever, would you?

A: No. Everyone would like to be immortal, but there’s always a price to pay, and I don’t think it’s worth it.

Q: What was your worst Valentine’s Day?

A: I don’t have one specific bad one, because they’re all bad, in a way. There’s always some kind of problem, whether it be a fight or disagreement.

Q: What are your favorite clothes?

A: I like shopping. I like to wear things I’m comfortable in. Versace is a great designer for my extreme side. Helmut Lang is good for my subtle and simple side.

Q: What do you do to relax?

A: Golf, watch TV, go hiking with my dogs, hang out with friends and family, go swimming, read.

Q: How do you stay in shape?

A: I do kung fu and cardio at the gym. And I watch nutritionally what I eat.

Q: Do you collect anything?

A: Watches. I have four or five Hamiltons. And some Mont Blancs. I collect classic cars, too. Well, so far I have one – a silver ’58 Chevy pickup.

Q: What would you love to own, but would never buy for yourself?

A: The Sharper Image store – the whole store.

Q: What was your most embarrassing fashion moment?

A: Must have been in the ’80s during college, wearing some “Miami Vice” jacket.

Q: What gives you substance?

A: People who are good people. Being very secure and sound and humble, and having good family and friends to keep me solid.

Q: Whose style do you most admire?

A: As far as women, Charlize Theron’s. She’s classic Hollywood. George Clooney; he’s cool. Spencer Tracy, Montgomery Cliff, Gregory Peck – I like the old actors. Those are the actors I look up to.

Q: What would you never wear?

A: A Speedo.

Q: Where do you hang out at night?

A: I work pretty hard, but sometimes I go out to a blues joint.

Q: What do you wear when relaxing?

A: A pair of jeans, cashmere sweaters, T-shirts, boxer shorts or nothing.

Q: What do you sleep in?

A: I sleep naked. I can’t sleep in clothing – I’m too claustrophobic. I feel all bunched up and tied up with clothes on.