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He said, Id like to ask you to do something.
I promise its a character unlike any youve played before.
And he was right.
Had you told him that you wanted to play Roy Cohn?No.
Theres a lot of a physical transformation for you as Henry Willson, too.
Then I had on these brown contacts and these fake teeth.
It ended up being an important part of my process.
I felt, in a wonderful way, not fully myself.
That was very helpful, especially with some of the nastier things that I had to do.
I felt a nice lack of responsibility.
I knew that it wasnt me.
He so badly wanted to be a part of that world.
Then, the way he ended, which was completely broke and alone.
He was alone because so many people had turned on him whom he had treated badly.
You see that when he does the Salome dance with the veils in the third episode.
Hes trying so hard to perform.
What was it like shooting that scene?
What I loved about that scene was the odd marriage of this man with this passion.
Hes doing this at the most passionate, need-for-expression level that he has.
Then it became really, really fun.
Although human nature being what it is, its very hard sometimes to be in these situations.
I cant overstate the admiration I have for the men and women who are so comfortable with their bodies.
Its a healthy relationship that I envy.
Its exactly how everybody should be, and were not.
I worried for these peoples health.
But yeah, they took good care of them, heated the water, had the robes ready.
What was that group like?Its an intense level of heaven.
I met Joe several years ago when we didThe Normal Hearton Broadway.
The theater people, especially, bring a confidence and a certainty about their performance that is somewhat uncommon.
Theres a real power there in all three of them.
Theyre all charismatic, yet repressed, often devious, self-hating gay men.
Is there anything you find interesting about that punch in?If I do, I didnt know it!
With Roy, youre right, that one did interest me.
The other two were both brought to me.
I didnt knowBoys in the Band.
I didnt know Henry.
I dont know what it is that connects me to these roles.
I feel interested in finding a way to empathize with all three of them.
Not because I think they shouldnt be despised by certain people.
Maybe its just a challenge.
Maybe theres a part of me buried that does empathize with them, but something … [pauses].
That was a shitty answer, Im sorry!
