Then, at some point, you get identified with certain things.

I look at it scene-by-scene. Whether it's a historical character or not, whatever, on the page is one thing and delving into the history or somebody is one thing, but making something work for an audience in front of a camera is another exercise and you bring whatever authenticity you can to it.

It's always best not to be thinking a hell of a lot while you're acting, because you want it to be as spontaneous as possible, not too intellectual. Just behaving and listening to other people who you're doing scenes with. I always like the latter when it looks easy, even though it may not be.

I messed around in high school, but I pretty much put it away until I did a television show in San Francisco.

When you make a movie, it's up to so many things and so many people.

I will confess I did none of my own singing. I did all my own costume and makeup, though.

I was a little nervous coming in mostly because my first scene was with Martin Sheen, who I'm a huge fan of.