I wanted to be a visual artist because I grew up around a lot of painters and photographers and had a very artistic upbringing. And I fantasized about being a drug-dealer when I was a kid. I thought it would be a good opportunity; I knew that the market would be strong. Is that bizarre?

So I started to learn Russian and I was one of those probably way too eager, annoying young actor kids who was trying to change all my lines to Russian, much to the dismay of the director and Nic Cage.

A little ego can be quite entertaining. But [Alessandro Michele is] a very humble, gentle, kind person. And I think that his humanity would probably surprise a lot of people, because he's so confident and bold in the choices that he makes.

It's nice to be able to communicate digitally with people around the world.

I thought it would be a great opportunity to work with someone that I really like and really respect as an artist [like Alessandro Michele].

In some ways you become who you really are, if you work hard enough on who you wish to be.

I fail enough and I beat myself up enough. I don't need anybody else to do it for me.