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" Toronto is like a smaller, safe New York. "
Mekhi Phifer
Safe
New York
New
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" 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. "
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" 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. "
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" '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. "
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" When you're working and making money, that's all good, but there has to be something that provides a substance, I think. "
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" If you go into something saying, 'I'm the bad guy,' you do yourself a disservice as an actor. It's always about trying to find the humanity in a character. "
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" I tend to play more true-to-life characters in real situations. "
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" 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. "
Mekhi Phifer
People
Personality
Work
" 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
" I always try to bring a certain masculine presence to what I do. That is part of the dynamic. "
Mekhi Phifer
Try
Bring
Always
" I love character-driven, well-written, great storytelling types of films, and I think that 'My Cousin Vinny' just hit the nail on the head with everything. It's one of those movies that, if I'm flipping through the channels, no matter what part it's on, I can watch it. It's just one of my favorites. "
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" When break dancing was out, I break danced. When rapping was the thing, I freestyled rap on the street and battled and all that kind of stuff. "
Mekhi Phifer
Out
Street
Break
" I've done 21 films in eight years, and I've said 'No' more times than I've done films. "
Mekhi Phifer
Years
Than
Said
" I grew up in a rough environment. You want to be strong and have your presence felt out there. That attitude reflects how people see you. "
Mekhi Phifer
You
Be Strong
People
" A lot of characters I've played have a certain amount of strength, pride, and leadership. "
Mekhi Phifer
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" I love working with Sally Field, and Steve Buscemi is one of the most giving, talented actors I've ever worked with. "
Mekhi Phifer
Ever
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" Eating right has made the biggest difference in my body. "
Mekhi Phifer
Difference
Eating
Made
" 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. "
Mekhi Phifer
Hate
Character
Know
" 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. "
Mekhi Phifer
People
Doctor
Doing
" 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.' "
Mekhi Phifer
Think
Cool
Career
" I've dated interracially a lot. I grew up in Harlem, so I've dated Latins, Dominican, Guyanese, Cuban, black, white. "
Mekhi Phifer
Black
White
Lot
" With my first son I cut his umbilical cord and everything, so I'm a hands-on father, to say the least. "
Mekhi Phifer
Everything
Cut
Father
" 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. "
Mekhi Phifer
Media
Start
Thought
" When you become an actor, at some point you look for something that brings you back to your roots. You find something that people around your neighborhood can relate to. People that you're close with can relate to. "
Mekhi Phifer
Look
People
Roots
" I'm a soccer dad at heart. I want five kids, and I want to get married. I want to coach Little League. "
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Kids
Little
Soccer
" I've gotten to travel all over the world and meet all kinds of people and do all kinds of great things, so it's, like, surreal. It just lets you know how time flies, especially when you're having fun. It seems like time keeps going by faster as I get older. "
Mekhi Phifer
Travel
Having Fun
Great
" 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
Me
Energy
" 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. "
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Sick
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Sometimes
" There's no question that I'm African-American. OK? I'm a black man. We're not going to escape that. "
Mekhi Phifer
OK
Question
Man
" 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. "
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Early
Find
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" 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.' "
Mekhi Phifer
Environment
Strength
Poverty