Ray Charles, in his own way, it's like at the beginning, Ray Charles changed American music, not once but twice.

It's very clearly stated in the film: You make your own choices, and what you're always fighting is ego.

When Ray Charles is concentrating he's like a piece of granite, nothing twitches, nothing, ... He sat for 25 minutes solid like that, like a stone, and I thought, 'Oh my God, if he doesn't like it I'm dead.' ... And then finally, after 25 minutes he started to talk back to the screen. I heard him say 'That's right. That's the truth.' .

An actor has to embody a role.

Russell Crowe is very difficult, but it's worth it. He's the real thing. I can tell you this. Russell Crowe was just as difficult before he was an international star as he was afterwards.

It isn't glamorous until after the film is finished, and you are at the premiere and getting your picture on the cover of magazines.

Ray Charles, in his own way, it's like at the beginning, Ray Charles changed American music, not once but twice.