You seem like a sunny person, but your characters are often melancholic. Where do you think that air of melancholy comes from?
I think I’m an optimist. I also think most of my characters have an optimism to them. But everyone has their sadnesses and their difficult moments. I definitely have had things in my life that make me see not only the pretty parts. There are things in my life that have been very difficult to go through, especially recently, but I won’t be exhibitionist about any of it. I talk about those things with my family and close friends.

Can you offer any specifics?
No. It’s also hard, because I’m a very open person. But you know how sometimes when bad things happen to you, and all of a sudden you just tell a stranger? And then you feel so empty afterwards, like you’re selling pieces of yourself that are important to you? I found it’s dangerous to be exhibitionist about those things, because it cheapens it if you’ll give it to anyone. The difficult things in people’s lives usually end up being the most meaningful.

One of your Harvard professors, lawyer Alan Dershowitz, has been quoted saying that you would excel as a lawyer, scholar, or creative intellectual. So why acting?
I love acting. I think it’s the most amazing thing to be able to do. Your job is practicing empathy. You walk down the street imagining every person’s life. And it’s such an amazing thing to travel all the time, and have your life constantly changing, and you’re not attached to anything that’s not meaningful.

But you have lots of attachments: a house on Long Island, a family you’re close to.
But I don’t really, like, live in my house [big laugh]. I’m in a different place all the time; it’s just sort of a place to sleep when I’m home. And what I mean is, not attached to trivial things. If I have my tribe with me, my family and friends, I’m fine anywhere. I can get princessy sometimes, but ultimately it’s all about wandering and finding and having your time to explore. So many people now in the States, it’s like an epidemic of work addiction or money addiction. I like being out of that.

Some people say acting’s not a serious profession. Did you ever wrestle with the question, “Is this enough for me, am I doing enough in the world?”
I’m in a silly job, but I don’t see why that’s a negative thing. [laughs] Serious is overrated. What’s so great about serious?