Emasculation does seem to be a theme in the roles that I choose.

I think your teenage years define your musical roots forever. You're always looking for a theme for your high school years.

When I look at a character, whether he's good or bad, one scene or 10 scenes, I just have to find my way in.

Mike Nicholls saw me in the musical of The Full Monty and brought me in to audition for Angels in America for HBO. And that opened a lot of doors because you could go to LA and say: "Well, I'm starring opposite Al Pacino and Meryl Streep..."

I don't concentrate on if a moment is scary or not. That's not my job.

I like the not knowing of what the next job is.

For me, I always have to establish a reality for the character. In very actor-y terms, you just have to understand his reality.