Photograph by Jennifer Cooper

Philip Seymour Hoffman
Truman Capote, Capote
Age: 38
Birthplace: Fairport, New York
Essential Filmography: Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Almost Famous (2000), 25th Hour (2002), Cold Mountain (2003)

PREMIERE: What was the toughest part of playing the role?
The story’s a very private, almost subtle personal tragedy, and the mixture of the obvious technical aspects of his character, his voice and mannerisms, was difficult to balance.

Who are your acting idols?
Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Newman are two men who have great taste and are great actors, but also I respect the way they live their lives. Meryl Streep I just adore. Christopher Walken. A lot of the actors that are the generation ahead of me, I try to listen to what they’ve done.

Why did you take this part?
The story was really compelling. Also, Danny Futterman and Bennett Miller are two people I’ve known since I was about sixteen, and the idea of taking this challenge on with them was appealing.

Do you have a secret to putting a character onscreen?
Oh, God, I wish. If it was that easy . . . [laughs] Being really hard on myself, maybe. That’s the only trick I fall back on, but I don’t think that’s something I’d recommend to anybody.

What was your first acting job?
A play I did in high school, at the Shipping Dock Theatre. It’s called A Breeze in the Gulf. I believe I got paid for that. I’m not sure, but I think I did.

If you weren’t acting, you would be . . . ?
If I wasn’t in the business at all, it might have something to do with teaching or literature.