What is important is to maintain integrity of the story, of the character, of the movie, even if it's a big production.

I always think back to the original movies and to those quieter moments where Luke is out in A New Hope, and there are the two suns setting. It is the equivalent, basically, of a farm boy dying to get out of his small town and do something bigger. It's those kinds of universal themes that ground this whole thing in space.

In the military, you learn the essence of people. You see so many examples of self-sacrifice and moral courage. In the rest of life you don't get that many opportunities to be sure of your friends.

I used to eat a whole chicken every day, for lunch. I did that for four years. But it got tiring - go to the store, buy it, eat it. It’s a mess.

Acting is a business and a political act and a craft, but I also feel like it's a service - specifically, for a military audience.

It was very clear to me I wanted to be an actor when I got out into civilian life.

Through theater and acting school, I found a way to articulate myself.