Steve Buscemi

Growing up, yeah, I had a magic kit with learn tricks and learn card tricks, but I was never... I used to watch whatever magic special was on as a kid, but then, it's not that I lost interest, but to be a magician, you really, it's really hard work. Learning lines is hard enough; learning sleight of hand, that's real practice.

There's a certain type of character that you can't help but come in contact with growing up and living in Brooklyn and Long Island. A certain mixture of moxie, heart, and a wise guy sense of humor.

Every day's an adventure when I step out of my door. That's why I usually wear a hat and keep my head low.

I could never have imagined the films I've done and the people I've worked with when I was starting out; I certainly did not have a career path.

I never know what I'm going to get. A 'Sopranos' fan is very different from a 'Big Lebowski' fan.

Communication is the key, and it's one thing I had to learn-to talk to the actors. I was so involved with the visual and technical aspects that I would forget about the actors.

To me, it doesn't really matter how big the part is as long as the part is important to the story.

I don't think it's necessary to be an actor to get great performances out of an actor. But I do think it helps me as a director because I know what I like as an actor, and I try to get that to the actors who I'm working with.

I had a magic kit. I never really followed through on it, but I had my phase of wanting to do it, sure.

When I get cast, I always flip to the end of the script to see if my character gets beaten up or killed.

I like character-driven stuff. It doesn't matter, the size of the part.

I didn't think I'd ever be able to do movies. That was for serious actors.