Mark Feuerstein

(on the attack of some doctors on "3 Lbs." at Columbia Medical Center) Mark Feuerstein: If I was being petty, I would say, first of all, that I remember that doctor sitting in the audience. He should have felt free to ask that question while he was sitting there, instead of to just [source] an article where he complains about it. I mean, we were right there. That being said... I'm sure it doesn't happen every day or every year that a doctor will literally steal a patient, but it's not beyond the realm of believability.

(on the attack of some doctors on "3 Lbs." at Columbia Medical Center) Mark Feuerstein: Exactly. And one aspect of the brain in particular is that it's this undiscovered country, as I said before, where every case that is remotely unique or rare is an opportunity for development and learning and research. We have been very accurate in depicting the competition among different doctors to get the cases in their court, so that they can get the credit for paving a new way. If this guy wants to assert that competition among doctors and research practitioners is not real, then he can... I don't know, write another article and get us more press.

(on what he brings to "3 Lbs.") Mark Feuerstein: All of my naïveté, my idealism, my optimism about the world.... I love the part, and I love going head-to-head with a guy like Stanley Tucci.. I mean, he's just awesome. I've loved his work before this show, and now to work with him every day has been a total joy. The guy is so funny and so smart and so fun.... It's a bit like my relationship with my older brother. You know, how the older sibling sees the world first? That's how I view Dr. Hanson. He's at the forefront of this "undiscovered country," the brain, and I'm right there behind him trying to keep up and trying to understand where he's going with it – while keeping my morals intact.

(on the reaction of his father when he learned that his son had a role in "3 lbs.") Mark Feuerstein: My father just sent an e-mail out to his entire law firm and everyone he knows, we will hit the New York lawyer demographic hard.

(on the multiples operation he had to watch to prepare himself for his role on "3 lbs.") Mark Feuerstein: I just stood over these operations, looking directly into the center of who these people are and directly into their brains and watching this surgeon as he was chatting with me . . . while he's scooping out tumor. He turns to me and says, 'If I'm one millimeter off right here, this person will lose their language. If I'm one millimeter too far right now, this person will have no memory when they wake up.

(on his career) Mark Feuerstein: I did the reverse of what most kids do, I dreamed of being a lawyer and then became an actor. I really was following the track of being a competitive kid in New York City. You're supposed to want to get into a good college, so you can get into a good law school, so you can get into a good firm and then be a partner. I was very fortunate that my brother became a partner at a law firm before me so he kind of freed me up in the context of my family to do whatever the hell I wanted.

(on his career) Mark Feuerstein: There are so many incredibly talented people out there who don't get some of the opportunities I get. I'm constantly mystified by my good fortune.

(on the fans) Mark Feuerstein: It's fun to stand there while they go through their entire lives trying to think of how they know you, and then when they realize they know you from TV, going through every TV show you weren't in.

(on the performance he is the most proud of) Mark Feuerstein: It could be anything from when I got to play Malvolio [from Twelfth Night] in drama school, where you could really take risks and not be penalized for it, to … I would have to go with The Muse, because I really love Albert Brooks' writing and I got to do a scene where I took out all my wrath on studio executives. But every experience is different and sometimes shooting something is better than watching it, like the TV show I do Once and Again. It's such a great set and everyone is wonderful to work with, but the work is not necessarily as fulfilling or challenging.

(on meeting Harold Perrineau Jr.) Mark Feuerstein: I remember the first day of shooting. I walked in and Harold was sitting there on the floor, painting his nails, and I only knew him from Oz and instead of saying "Whussup?" I said politely, "How are you? Nice to see you. You're looking lovely."

(on his attraction to the movie "In Her Shoes") Mark Feuerstein: When I read the script I was crying. I loved this story, so to be part of it in any capacity was a dream for me. But to get to play the one male lead in this movie opposite Toni Collette... Playing a guy who loves food, which is me. Playing a guy who is upfront and honest about what he feels. It was just a dream for me.

(on working with Toni Collette and Cameron Diaz) Mark Feuerstein: They got along so famously. It was so interesting to watch because to me Cameron Diaz is kind of the consummate star who is always beautiful, on, perfect, and Toni Collette is always beautiful and perfect too, but she's sort of the consummate actress. And the two of them were both completely relaxed all the time and both so brilliant when you turn the camera on - and in each of their respective ways. I mean, Cameron smiles and the whole room lights up. Toni cries and everyone was sobbing. It was a one-two punch.

(on what beauty products he uses) Mark Feuerstein: The closest thing I use to beauty products is the grease on the pizza from John's Pizzeria.

(on his "feminine vibe") Mark Feuerstein: I just give off this kind of feminine vibe which has... served me so well with women in my life.

(on working on the movie "In Her Shoes") Mark Feuerstein: It's not a chick flick. Guys should go see this movie because if anybody has a brother out there or is interested in their relationship with their family - or enjoys seeing Cameron Diaz in a bikini - this will appeal to you.

(on becoming an actor) Mark Feuerstein: Once you become an actor, it's important to take care of yourself. I live in Santa Monica, where I can mountain bike, hike and go running on the beach. I like a nice sunset jog.

(on working with Penélope Cruz in the movie "Woman On Top") Mark Feuerstein: I can't say enough nice things about her. She is amazing. You would think, looking at her, "Well, she can't be smart, funny, and a good actress," but she is all these things and more. She's great at imitations, dancing, partying. And she's a great person, too. She doesn't do it for show. One day when we were shooting in Pellerinho, a small town in Bahia, Brazil, we're hanging out on a street corner and there's this little boy who's dirty, dressed in rags, who is begging. She takes him by the hand and walks him to a sandwich shop and buys him two roast beef sandwiches. There's no one around, writing an article about her, this is just Penelope being herself.

(on when he was at school) Mark Feuerstein: In high school, I was a total jock/extracurricular nerd/just plain nerd. When I got to college, I realized that building a resume to get into a good school was no longer necessary. I had already gotten into one. I might as well follow my bliss.