I learned about life before I went into the theater, which is why I've been so happy. I was a soldier.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I feel like I had to learn how to take care of myself and find out what made me happy aside from just making films.
I learned more about acting from George Stevens in a few months than I had in my entire life up until then.
But, yes, I learned everything working in theater. I learned the importance of community - I was constantly going to play readings, stand-up nights, improv. nights.
But most of what I've learned about acting - and a lot of what I've learned about life in the past seven years - was taught to me by Robert Altman.
It was very clear to me I wanted to be an actor when I got out into civilian life.
The theater was my first training ground. It taught me discipline, dedication and appreciation of hard work.
It's true, I did a lot of great movies, and I'm happy. It was what it was, and now I think all of that has fed into where I am now, and I think it has taught me a lot.
It was fun being an actor, but by the time college rolled around, I was ready to try some new things. By the time I graduated, I realized I enjoyed having a normal life and I never went back.
I studied theater in college, and I absolutely knew that I loved acting, and I knew that I loved theater.
Theater has been my way of learning about everything.