Philip Seymour Hoffman is suffering.

Poor baby, he has a head cold, and it's making him cough and wheeze.

It's also making his usually froggy voice sound even froggier. And it's making his typically moody eyes look even moodier.

Underneath it all, though, there's the distinct possibility that the chubby, 35-year-old actor is actually pretty pleased. His career is really picking up speed, and he knows it.

"I've spent the past 2-1/2 years doing these movies," says Hoffman, blowing his nose. "And they're now coming out over the next five months."

At the recent Toronto International Film Festival, the actor is dressed in an untucked pale-blue shirt and dark slacks, and he sports an orange goatee that contrasts vividly with his light-blond, fly-away hair.

Already familiar to discerning filmgoers from such movies as David Mamet's "State and Main," Cameron Crowe's "Almost Famous" and Anthony Minghella's "The Talented Mr. Ripley," Hoffman has several new films about to break.

The first one out is "Red Dragon," which hit theaters earlier this month. A prequel to "The Silence of the Lambs," it features Hoffman as Freddy Lounds, a reporter for the sleazy National Tattler who covers the exploits of such serial killers as Hannibal Lecter and the one known as the Tooth Fairy.

Based on the book by Thomas Harris, "Red Dragon" is actually a remake of "Manhunter," the 1986 film that told the same basic story with a different slant and a different cast. Hoffman says that he has a more subtle take on his character than did Stephen Lang, who played the reporter role in "Manhunter."

"In 'Manhunter,' he is more overtly ambitious. Used a lot of energy," says Hoffman. "I didn't see him like that. I saw him as someone who has more savvy."

Not that that "savvy" is enough to prevent Lounds from being crazy-glued to a wheelchair in his underpants - and worse.

But for Hoffman, one perk of making "Red Dragon" was the chance to appear with such respected actors as Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson and Mary-Louise Parker. And, of course, Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal the cannibal.

"It's a great character and I think he likes playing it," says Hoffman, as his voice dips down into bullfrog range. "It's everyone's sick, demented, perverted part of themselves that they can kind of play out through this character."

Coming soon from Hoffman are "Punch-Drunk Love," an eccentric romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler, and "Love Liza," a mood piece in which he plays a bereaved husband.

Hoffman calls "Punch-Drunk Love" "very dreamlike," adding that his own character "is like the nightmare in the dream."

"Love Liza" was written by Hoffman's brother, Gordy.

"I wrote it thinking I would play Wilson," the screenwriter has said of the film and its central character. "When it was finished, about two weeks later, I showed it to Philip and he said he wanted to play Wilson, and I said OK."

Philip Seymour Hoffman describes "Love Liza" as a "very romantic" movie "about a love, a great love." Wilson's wife, who has killed herself, leaves behind a letter for him that he is reluctant to open. Meanwhile, Wilson deals with his grief by sniffing gasoline - "huffing" - and seeking other distractions.

"He's pushed himself toward an irresponsible way of behaving so he doesn't have to deal with his job and his house and the mother-in-law and the letter and all these things," Hoffman explains, fighting a sneeze. "He needs time."

Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times has called Hoffman "the most gifted and inspired character actor working in film." He's certainly one of the hardest-working.

Hoffman's upcoming films also include Spike Lee's "The 25th Hour," "Owning Mahowny" co-starring Minnie Driver and "Cold Mountain," which is being directed by Minghella and is based on Charles Frazier's novel about a wounded Confederate soldier on his way home.

"I've got to go back and shoot 'Cold Dragon,;" he starts to say, and then laughs helplessly at his own mistake. "'Cold Dragon'! 'Punch-Drunk Dragon Love'! 'Punch-Drunk Liza's Dragon'!"

What's he taking for that head cold, anyway?