I've been lucky to play characters that are really broad.

I've been really interested in focusing on the aspects of my Russian heritage I'm proud of. I'm actually em­barrassed to tell people I'm Russian, because it's become such an awful place.

The ability to have a choice in what you do is a privilege.

I want things to be characters and not me. Why would I want to play me?

I'm not passive aggressive. If something bothers me, I think about it, then I act on it. I express it.

I need what I'm thinking to come out into the world, even if it's a two-word approval, like, "Yeah, I agree," I need that approval so that in the morning I can get up and use that when I go to work. It's a weird version of focusing.

I've been lucky to be able to work with great people and on interesting material.