Honestly, I think some of my family members of a certain generation were more skittish about me playing a gay character on Six Feet Under than watching me play a killer.

I like to think I am well-mannered. If I have the option at a breakfast place, I'll go with the grits. That's how Southern I am.

My mother is a survivor who's had a lot of things happen in her life that have been very trying.

For me, it was more a dramatic shift to go from the stage to the screen.

Sometimes men present a swagger that suggests a prowess, whether it's sexual or financial. L.A. seems to be a place where trying too hard is almost a given. Some people are unapologetic about how blatantly they represent who they are through what they wear or drive. Subtlety is in short supply.

I'm very focused on "Dexter" right now. I want to make it as good of a show as we can.

I mean, the competition is really created by the buzz around the Emmys. It's a totally subjective thing.