Michael Pena

I usually just try to do whatever's on the page because I've done research before - including a lot of analysis - but you end up with conflicting data. To me, the script is king.

Regardless of whatever job you do, you want to see the importance of it or how it can be important. I think by inspiring the people that I come from - if I inspire anyone - would be worth it.

Every time I said, 'Man, I'm doing CHiPs,' 100% of the time they would ask, 'Is Erik Estrada going to be in it?'

When I did 'Crash,' to be honest with you, it was just another acting job. I just wanted to do as good as I possibly could.

'End of Watch' was 98-percent written, and I work really hard to make it look like it's the first time I'm saying it.

I think about where I grew up and how I grew up: my dad was making $25,000 a year. Taking a chance wasn't really taking a chance. It was like you were going for something better. To me, there wasn't that much risk involved.

Play the role as a human being... human beings are three-dimensional.

As a kid growing up in Chicago, I've been shot at before. I remember I very calmly went down on the ground. Afterwards, you're like, 'Omigod.' You just don't have time to think.

The only time that I really go on Twitter is to promote, because what sucks is there's some weird trolling going around. Even if you are well-intentioned, there's some mean people behind a keyboard.

Some of the best bad guys in movies are funny and charming.

I've tested for I-don't-know-how-many pilots, and I didn't get any of them. I would always try to go off the top and make it as spontaneous as possible, but acting in sitcoms is such a skill set, and I didn't have it. I wish I did back when I was younger.

I think nerves stop you from doing things. Make you stop and maybe make you withdraw. Then there's excitement where you can't wait to do it.

I've been seeing superhero movies as long as I can remember. I don't think they're going anywhere.

Marvel just does things differently.

I'd love to work with Woody Allen.

I'm envious of writers.

I'm clearly not a writer, but I'm always a fan of them.

I don't know why - I have a ton of books: five full cabinets of them.

Sometimes it's good to be naive.

It's so interesting to watch Ben Stiller work because he just knows what's funny.