Bankrate: How great is it to be in iconic work with positive messages like "Hairspray" and "Welcome Back Kotter?"

John Travolta: It's great. I have to agree with you because I witnessed with my own eyes the '60s and the '70s and all the decades since, and I've seen the progress. I think you can't take your eyes off it because there's always more progress to be made, but I am proud of the fact that I can be part of several movies that have messages deeper than just entertainment value. And yet, some of them are more light-hearted movies, where you gracefully allow an audience to interpret the message. You don't want to hit someone over the head with a message, but you do want to get the message out. You want to do it with some grace, and I think "Hairspray" does that without being preachy. 

Bankrate: Ice Cube is doing the "Kotter" remake. How do you feel about taking maybe a cameo in the movie?

John Travolta: I can't wait to see it. I think it will be fun. I think it's a good idea and I think it's so much smarter that he do it with another perspective than what we did -- so it's new. As for a cameo, I don't know, I've been approached on it but I'd have to see what it was and what the real thing was about. It's not about the money aspect of it -- it's what the new film is about.

Bankrate: The movie business has been very good to you. What if one of your kids wanted to follow in your footsteps?

John Travolta: Well, actually, my daughter, who is beautiful, wants to act. Kelly and I are going to do a movie called "Old Dogs" with Robin Williams and Ella is going to be in it. Jett doesn't care at all about acting. But I think maybe acting can be a family business. I hope I'm acting for a long time to come. I come from blue collar roots, so I think it's something inside of me that I should work. I love to entertain, so it's not all about the money.