Quotes

[About playing "Gambit" in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)] The biggest thing for me is doing this justice. Being with Hugh and everything else, it's not called "Gambit: Origins". I want to come into "Wolverine" and contribute to Hugh Jackman's movie the best I can and I feel I've done everything I could possible to bring this guy to life.

I would murder to play Gambit again.

Yeah, I played it pretty darn hard seriously, as many Canadians do. I started playing when I was 3 or 4 years old, had the backyard pond and everything. So I was devastated. - On his hockey career ended by injury.

Video games and computers have become babysitters for kids. Parents have to lead by example. I have two little sisters and I help my mom raise them. You just try to give them knowledge piece by piece and tell them, '[By eating well and being active,] you're going to feel a lot better about yourself, you're going to be able to do better at school, you're going to have more energy in sports.' I think it's about self-empowerment, as well - giving kids choices. It starts with coaches, teachers, and especially parents, by living healthy themselves.

He [Berg] just gave me such an opportunity, especially when you look back and see - and especially with this big movie coming out. There are a lot of people who came in and out, but he's one of those people who really took a risk on me and saw the potential. I won't ever forget that. (On Peter Berg casting him as "Tim Riggins" on Friday Night Lights (2006)).

There's that stigma about New Yorkers, how they're so mean, but in my experience it was quite the opposite. People were very genuine and very nice, even on the subway. I mean, I was sleeping on the subway, man, so it wasn't like I was doing very well when I was in New York. It's a really intense city, and it tests you. - On living in New York City.

A lot of people are surprised to hear that an actor studied for two or three years. They take the craft for granted and wanna just wake up and be an actor. But paying your dues and all that puts so much into being a success. You have an understanding of what it's about, being on your own for three or four years and living day to day on $3, or living in an apartment with no electricity. I didn't want to just go back home and be like, "Yep, it didn't work out."

On fame, wild nights out in Hollywood: There's no need to get involved in all that if you are in it for the right purpose.

[on acting]: I got enveloped with it. I'm not sure if you can over-study, but my teacher kicked me out of class for a month. Everything happens, you have to believe, for a reason. I lucked out a few times and met a few people who believed in me, and I'm still riding this wave.

These war photographers would break up in front of you telling their story. That raised your game, your focus and what you put into it. I think for me this is why I do it. It's why you put in the work. You're telling the story of someone who lived and you have to do it right. - On playing Kevin Carter.

I've always been intimidated by the technicalities of taking photos, especially with a film camera -- not just a point and shoot. But getting a role like this there's no better moment to take it in. I look at photography in a different light, now. - On playing Kevin Carter.

I definitely have a pieces of me like Riggins - my father was never in my life. I've had curve balls thrown at me.

[on The Bang Bang Club (2010)] I was scared s**tless to take this on. And that's when you know you're doing something right.

Actors become so fucking sensitive. I've worked with actors who are fucking lazy and expect shit to happen without putting in time. Look man, if you're not prepped and ready to go to work, don't sign up for an Oliver Stone film.

[on filming John Carter (2012)] You can name any part on my body and at one point I'm sure it was swollen or hurt or pulled or yanked or something. You're just in insane shape that you gotta keep up. It's excessively tough, man.

[on unexpectedly being cast in heroic roles] I didn't really follow action heroes. It was more of a Sean Penn and a Daniel Day-Lewis and a Philip Seymour Hoffman that I admired.

[on Savages (2012)] To be in this film was a dream. I've been in the acting game for probably eight years. It's not just about being on screen, but attaining things in your life that no one can take from you, and this is one of them.

Living on the subway in New York City was by far the lowest point. That's where I slept for weeks. But that's a different low. Not 'I don't know if I'll ever make it as an actor'. It was pure survival.

If you told me ten years ago when I was homeless in New York City that my first two movies would make close to $600 million, I would have laughed at you. I passed out from exhaustion on 'Carter'. There's nothing more I could have given to that project.

[on if the "bad press" over "John Carter" was hard for him] - I mean, look man, it wasn't an uplifting experience. My biggest regret would have been if I didn't do enough personally. If I didn't give it everything I had. If I hadn't prepped enough. I don't have that regret, so that allows me to let go. I still talk to Lynn Collins almost daily. Those relationships that were born won't be broken by people we never met. [2014]

[on if he wishes there had been a sequel to "John Carter"] - I miss the family. I miss Andrew Stanton. I know the second script was fucking awesome. We had to plant a grounding, so we could really take off in the second one. The second one was even more emotionally taxing, which was awesome. [2014]

[on whether the disappointing box office for "John Carter" was one of the reasons he "moved toward indies"] - It's funny that people are saying this. You go back to "Friday Night Lights." Then I did "The Bang Bang Club," which is probably one of my proudest things I've been involved with, and then these opportunities came along. You don't say no to Oliver Stone (who directed him in "Savages"). [2014]