In the beginning, I was always playing some kind of gangbanger and the token Mexican dude who didn't have a lot of lines but was in the entire movie. At the same time, everyone gets typecast, and I decided that if I was going to play a stereotypical role, I was going to play it like a three-dimensional character.
Michael PenaThere is always pressure in any movie set. If you think about it, there is something that you memorize and it is almost like public speaking every day, all day. There is a crew of people, there are monitors and if you mess up, you have to do it until you get it right and then sometimes, you would go blank.
Michael PenaI guess people recognize me, but I'm not a household name. Two out of every five people who come up to me know my name. The one thing I don't want is to be followed by paparazzi.
Michael PenaI think that when youโre doing a comedy and it makes you laugh, thereโs a certainโฆ like you can reject it, and itโs okay. Itโs not promoting it or making it seem cool. I think thatโs when you get into hot water.
Michael Pena