The world can make an actor feel overly important. What I do isn't hard work. It's not ditch digging – which I have done, for one summer. Of course there are times when your fuel tank's low, but even on the hardest days you are on a film set. You are doing something creative.
People always want to know if I'm like Phil [Dunphy, his character in Modern Family]. The truth is I'm too neurotic. I have too many bees buzzing in my brain. Being in Phil's head is like taking a trip to the spa. But I do share his obliviousness. The other morning, when it was very dark, my wife whispered from the bed: "Have a good day." I leaned over and kissed the lamp.
The process of adoption is equal to being pregnant [Burrell has two adopted daughters, now two and four]. In terms of the amount of ups and downs involved, we found them similar to those which our friends experienced biologically. There are extensive background searches and interviews, but really it's about the birth mother. You hope you suit what she wants, as people.
I fell in love with Utah. I went hiking first, then I met my wife – who's from there – and we bought a house. Then my brother and I bought a bar in Salt Lake City. I like the fact that there's no "scene"; there's an earnest quality to the people. They mean what they say, which is the complete opposite of LA.
Your instincts are who you are. My dad told me that during something of an identity crisis and I realised I didn't have to try so hard.
My wife bakes so much wonderful food I worry our children have unrealistic expectations. She's just qualified as a pastry chef and she's so good we have to ask the girls not to be too critical in restaurants. Personally, I'm amazed at the work that goes into the croissant – I've a new-found respect for it.
I'm glad I had to wait until my 40s for success. I was not a mature young man and would probably have gone off the rails. Plus, I don't know if it was my Frankenbrow, but before Modern Family I was always cast as the guy who got his comeuppance – and was usually killed or fired. It's nice to play someone well-intentioned now.
My favourite game is wiffle ball, a fake version of baseball with a plastic ball and bat that's really for kids. It can be embarrassing to ache from wiffle ball.
There's no private side to acting, which some people find hard. I've drawn inspiration from athletes. They manage to be themselves under the pressure of public scrutiny and they have it much harder – they have to perform with people yelling at them.
My favourite "Phil's-osophy" is: "Always look people in the eye, even if they're blind. Just say, 'I'm looking you in the eye.'"
Sometimes I wish the writers of Modern Family could have a light over them that says: "I write it!" But I'm sure they mention it on their dating profiles.
Ty Burrell is the voice of Mr Peabody in Mr Peabody & Sherman, in cinemas from 7 February
