Jul
13
2005
Q. You’ve said every movie you’ve done has been for your children, even before they were born. What do you mean by that?
In the late ’80s when I was on that TV show “21 Jump Street” – on the one hand it was a great thing. It was an incredible learning experience. It did a lot for me. I was making money for the first time in my life. That was not bad. There were a lot of very positive aspects to that situation. There were also negative aspects. At that time as a television actor, it was very, very difficult to break into films.
I was released [from “Jump Street”] while I was doing “Edward Scissorhands,” and I swore to myself that I would only work on these films or these projects that I would at least someday be able to say to my kids, “That was all me. That’s pure me. I didn’t sell out, because I don’t want you to be mortified or embarrassed.” So that was what was in my head at the time, just thinking if I am going to do this, I am going to do it on my terms.
Q. Why do you and Tim Burton work so well together?
It all stems from Tim’s bravery. Early on for “Edward Scissorhands” we had this great meeting and somehow connected. I never expected that he would cast me in that role.
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