As Uta Hagen would say, there's the representational actor and the presentational actor. My sister [Maggie Gyllenhaal] came up to me recently after she saw this movie, Southpaw, the movie I did, and she thought there was this exploration of that type of presentation, and a bit of representation as well, if I could be totally honest, where she was deeply moved.

I think, in the initial process of discovering a character and the analytical process - and this is what I did take from Buddhism - initially I think there has to be an analytical, intellectual approach. And that has to be abandoned by the time you're playing the game.

Masculinity is, nowadays and generationally, confusing. What is honor, what is protection, what is being a man? It's evolving. But I believe having an open heart - and a strong mind to protect that - is the idea.

It's amazing how the world has changed because, at that time [2005], a lot of actors didn't want to play a gay role.

Sometimes what I actually love to do is go to a farm and get fresh milk or watch a pig get slaughtered.

Most of the things that I learn are from the women in my life.

As much as I am one for real human interaction, I also want to make a show that's entertaining and that people want to see.