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" Being from New York, living in L.A., being in Chicago, you kind of get more of the big-city, melting-pot sort of thing. But when you drive through the country, there's so many small pockets of people that don't experience people of different backgrounds. So what they've seen on television is their baseline. "

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" It's nice to always have been able to remain consistent. I'm very thankful for that and to work on shows that I can be proud of, and films. "

Mekhi Phifer

I Can

Thankful

Nice

" Toronto is like a smaller, safe New York. "

" I love working with Sally Field, and Steve Buscemi is one of the most giving, talented actors I've ever worked with. "

" In the early '80s, it was hard to find celebrities you can identify with if you lived in the hood. There weren't any rap videos at the time. "

" I hated how Sam Rothstein got manipulated by Sharon Stone's character in 'Casino.' I mean, I just hate how he gets manipulated; that just gets ridiculous to me. I know it's historic, but I hated that. "

" I'm a big road trip guy. I'm the guy who gets in the RV and drives across country. And when you do that, you really get to see small-town America. "

" 'Mekhi' means, sort of, one who loves water, and the relationship with water and how water is important to life... It's a sense of being needed and purpose - you know, we have a purpose on this earth, and we're here to fill that. "

" I know a lot of people who are weak, who are in a perpetual cycle of poverty and being locked up. There are guys from my neighborhood who are in jail or who are dead. It does take a certain strength to know your environment and say, 'I can grow beyond it.' "

" When I did 'Clockers,' I didn't even think about having a career in acting, I just thought, 'Wow, this is cool. I get to do a little movie.' "

" I'm from Harlem, born and raised there. "

" With my first son I cut his umbilical cord and everything, so I'm a hands-on father, to say the least. "

" I always try to bring a certain masculine presence to what I do. That is part of the dynamic. "

" I always try to pick and choose projects that will be impactful to someone. From films like 'Clockers' to playing a doctor on 'ER' to doing '8 Mile,' where I'm in charge of the hip-hop battles, I think it affects all kinds of different audiences. And I just try to keep that in mind, to keep people entertained. "

" I'm an avid watcher of the Nat Geo channel, where I watch shows about how the planets are formed, and shows about moons, quasars, black holes. "

" Wales was great. The people were great, and I had a great time there. "

" When you're working and making money, that's all good, but there has to be something that provides a substance, I think. "

" Once or twice a week, I try to do some kind of boxing. I'm hitting the bags and jumping rope - all that stuff. "

" It's always a pleasure when you get to work with people that you actually really like. "

" I don't really like hospitals that much. People are sick; sometimes it can be depressing. There's people going through a lot of pain in there. It has that funny smell. "

" Anytime you join a show that's been successful, there's a certain responsibility. And a lot of anxiety that, you know, you're bringing the character to life, respecting the show and doing your part. So that you are not the weak link in the chain. "

" Rap is definitely a youthful expression. "

" Actors look at life in a different way. When I meet people, I know that one day I may portray that person or someone like them. It may be a cop or a homeless guy. It helps you to pay more attention to people. Everyone I meet, I retain something from them, something from their personality. It helps me to portray realism in my work. "

" My agents usually get a breakdown of all the projects that are out there. When I got 'Divergent,' they hadn't finished the script. They knew they wanted the leader of the Dauntless to have a certain demeanor and energy. They had me read a short monologue, and I got the part. "

Mekhi Phifer

Got

Energy

" I do like sci-fi, absolutely. I've watched everything from 'Star Trek' to 'Star Wars' to 'Terminator' - the list goes on and on. "

Mekhi Phifer

Goes

Everything

" I've dated interracially a lot. I grew up in Harlem, so I've dated Latins, Dominican, Guyanese, Cuban, black, white. "

" I definitely applaud Netflix and all of those guys, whether it's Hulu or whoever, for doing original programming. "

" I almost turned down '8 Mile.' I was due to start 'ER,' and I learned they really wanted me to be in '8 Mile.' I didn't know Eminem; I just knew he was a rapper and saw what everyone else saw in the media. I thought they were just trying to capitalize on his popularity. "

" I loved the extended version of 'Aliens' because it shows just a little bit more that you don't see and what they always show on television. "

" I tend to play more true-to-life characters in real situations. "

" A lot of characters I've played have a certain amount of strength, pride, and leadership. "