I did come to L.A. to try to get on TV and get in front of a camera, so I could have a stage career in New York.

I've never been a big gore guy.

I played baseball in college, and then I went to Russia to study acting and played some pro ball over there.

The goal is just to try to get better and better, and the only way that makes sense to do that is to work with the best people. Surround yourself with the best artists and learn from them, and try to sink your teeth into the best material possible.

I played sports in high school and in college.

We all come from different levels, and I think every human has their own relationship to violence, athletic violence and fighting.

If you can figure out how to get paid to do something you love, that's the dream.

I think anytime a movie can inspire you to think and reflect and look at your life, it's a success.

Some people that are heroes to some can be looked at by another group of people as villains. As far as a middle point, just speaking for myself, that's exactly what to avoid.

I mean, I hate when actors talk about how hard their job is. It's ridiculous, because we have the best job in the world.

Fighting really does reveal everything to the other guy. It's not just about who can beat up to or who's tougher, it's who bullies who and who goes easy on who. You change from opponent, so it's about how you deal with a challenge and how you deal with a guy who you can handle easily.

I want people to think about everyone in their life, and their responsibilities to their friends, their families and their country.

I hope that I would put whatever my political beliefs aside, and realize that my country's asked me to to something, and do it.

I think it helps, as an actor, to never know when you're going to get that next script and you're done.

At the end of the day, it's a show [Daredevil ] not about a superhero, but it's about a man. Hopefully, that's what we're doing with The Punisher, as well. It's an enormous honor to play this character. It's a character that's quite iconic and very important to a lot of people.