There are so many great stories and characters out there that you can just keep saying, "Yes," but you've got to eventually make the decision that if it's something you really want then do it for yourself.

I do get nervous to act, it kind of depends on what it is really.

My bar for being successful is being able to do movies that really mean something to me and being able to make a living off of that.

But I'm not a tough guy or a street fighter for real. I'm just an actor.

I think, even a lot of people that make movies forget is that, in my mind, a movie should work with the sound off. You should be able to watch a movie without the sound and understand what's going on. That's your job, to build a series of chronological images that tell the story.

If it wasn't for her literally doing my homework for me, I would not have even graduated high school. Guaranteed . . . My mom always said, 'Luck is nothing but preparation and opportunity.' I think because I've had that history of not really being great in school, I probably try to overcompensate. That's why I try to read so many books. Just so I don't feel . . . uneducated.

I learned to appreciate repetition. That's why I can dance. It's how I learned to act. I have a high tolerance for repetition.