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Well, when you're playing a role, you have to think, 'What is ultimately motivating the character?'

If I prepare myself for a character, for a role, I always try to understand her.

Character is the result of two things: mental attitude and the way we spend our time.

Besides the mistakes that are pointed out, I love the way readers become involved with the characters. When readers start asking about character motivations instead of concentrating on the special effects, it means you're connecting with them on a personal level.

My school of thought with going into a character is that you have to understand where they come from, and you have to empathize with them.

I feel there's something about becoming a character that helps people understand themselves.

To me, the psychology behind the character is critical. So I work very hard to get into the mind of the man that I'm going to be playing, because number one, I want to understand why he's doing what he's doing. It's essential, it's absolutely essential.

A character is as much about what you do as what you say.

You rely on a lot of things about learning to play a particular character.

I try to give both my heroes and villains an emotional dimensionality which provides the motivation for their actions.