Quotes

I almost got to do Saving Private Ryan (1998), playing a German. I learned a German monologue in two days. I worked with Marco Hofschneider from Europa Europa (1990). We taped it and I went over it about a hundred times. It got down to me and Jeremy Davies. Even though it didn't work out, I know he's [Steven Spielberg] got his eye on me now so that's kind of cool.

I'm a big fan of Gary Oldman - Sid and Nancy (1986), Dracula (1992), Immortal Beloved (1994) - I've watched every film he's ever done. I'd also love to work with some of the old school greats like Mike Nichols and Steven Spielberg. And I think Gus Van Sant is totally cool.

[on auditioning] I'm so busy trying to be other people. You start acting just as soon as you walk into the door of that casting office. You can't just be yourself because they don't want to hire you. I am not a killer. I don't beat my mother. I don't do these things, but you have to walk in there and be these things because they don't want to hire somebody who "pretends to be gay" or "pretends to be a gang member".

I try to keep a nice balance of different types of characters. [I don't want to do] too many Anglo roles or too many Mexican roles or too many bad guy roles or too many good guy roles. I've got to really keep it balanced so I can have the freedom to choose and go after the roles that I want without being held back by what they remember me from my past performances.