I did think for many, many years that because of my ability I could beat the system. And I was wrong.

I started to shortcircuit because I had high aspirations for the film. I never told anybody that.

I had a bonding problem when I went off and boxed for five years. I was over in Europe and Asia fighting because I wanted to do something different; I was tired of acting. But the thing is, when I was done doing that, I couldn't get a job.

I spent so long studying really hard to become a fine actor, but threw it all away because I got the adulation and the fame so easily

Acting was never my first choice as a profession, but I came to terms with it when I decided I better buckle down and be the best I can be at it.

I tried to change my name for the fights, but the only way they could pay me money was if I used my own name. I wanted to change my name to, like, Romeo something-or-other, and they said, "No, we can't do that. We've got to use Mickey Rourke." Because they paid me a lot of money to go over to Europe and Asia to fight.

All that prosthetic makeup drains you. By the time it's lunch, you're done.