We were both [ with Russel Crowe] hand-plucked to do [The Quick and the Death]. He had done Romper Stomper and I had done Gilbert Grape and so we were hand- plucked to do this big budget film. So we were both very bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

It's very, very rare in this business [moviemaking] where a script lands on your lap ready to go.

When I grew up, I lived in the ghettos of Hollywood; it was the most disgusting place to be. I was known as the crazy little kid. I did impressions. Then I realized that's not what I want to do. I don't want to be a comedian to please other people.

Some people don't get it when I'm being sarcastic.

Portraying emotionally ill characters gives me the chance to really act.

Obviously people don't want other people to tell them how to think or what to believe, or to tell them what's right politically and what's wrong.

It's a tough thing-you get in a situation where you feel you have to be perfect all the time and it sucks.