I always knew that someone was going to come at me with a script to play God. It's just one of those things, the way your career is unfolding and all the talk about gravitas etc etc, so I had a strong feeling that someone was going to offer me the part of God. I was totally prepared to say, 'Thanks but no thanks,' unless it was a comedy.

I was very lucky once I got started with a career. I happened to get some really good parts to play with some really good people to play with.

I was raised in Mississippi, so heat and humidity is my bread and butter. It keeps me going. I can't stand cold weather.

I try to keep my mind active. I'm a solitaire and puzzle addict. I exercise religiously. I don't do many things religiously and I've taken up golf to have something to do when I have nothing to do.

I seldom get into the mood of the story. It's acting. I go in, I act, I quit. I don't take anything away from it.

I am going to stop calling you a white man and I'm going to ask you to stop calling me a black man.

As you grow in this business, you learn how to do more with less.