I grew up in Manhattan on the Upper East Side.

I'm not someone who likes to have my picture taken, let alone see it plastered all over the place.

Fame didn't happen to me in my 20s, it has been a gradual thing which probably makes it easier to deal with.

There's something grueling but very appealing about rough, to-the-bone material in a low budget context. There's less between you and the material. There are less people. There is less time. There's often less technology. You have to concentrate very intensely, and you jump in a little deeper because there's nothing in your way... but there are challenges.

I could have gone to the gym for three hours a day and bought into all that, but I just wasn't interested.

People have to look to the right places for guidance. Looking at a certain type of entertainment shouldn't be where you go for guidance. To zone out, have a laugh, sure - but it's not a great example on how to navigate on a journey. There are other places to look.

Collaboration. ... For me, it has informed every move I've ever made. And it saved me in many ways and still does. When things get hard, you can cling to the work.