You were wonderful as Brian Wilson in Love & Mercy. Did you get any feedback from the great man himself? Fran2016 and Aubrey26
Thank you. I spent a bunch of time with Brian before filming. If you asked him about the world, you might only get a little bit out of him. But if you asked about music, he’d light up. I loved talking with him. I also got to sing with him and his touring band a few times, which was amazing. We filmed in the studio in which they recorded Pet Sounds, and he came on set, which was a trip. I didn’t get much feedback in terms of my performance – it was more getting to know each other and learning about his life.

Which was more challenging in Little Miss Sunshine – the first half where you don’t speak, or the second half where you break your vow of silence? mattyjj
I remember the first few days, filming the dinner table scene where they’re eating chicken and I don’t speak. It felt like the directors were saying: “OK, maybe give us a little more,” because they couldn’t quite see what I was doing. But when they watched it back, they said: “It’s there, we see it,” which was a wash of relief. It’s a great question, because sometimes the words are harder, but stepping into the unknown of not speaking was pretty challenging.

Did you read the book before filming the BBC’s War and Peace? nickwayne and RDMiller
I did. There are some extremely detailed passages, and the epilogue is really interesting. I do think it’s probably the greatest book ever written.

Did playing the leader of the Animal Liberation Front in Okja [about a teenage girl who raises a genetically modified super-pig] change your relationship to food? gladarvor
I’m going to give you the honest, embarrassing answer: it did, but only for a very short time. I was also in Fast Food Nation, which definitely had an impact on my eating habits. But the biggest change in my relationship to food has been [a result of] age, becoming a parent and paying a bit more attention to what I put in my body.

What acting habit or preconception have you had to unlearn? angiebutnotjolie
I started young – I did my first Broadway play when I was 10 or 11. One of my favourite things about the job is that you’re always learning, but also unlearning. I’ve always wanted to stay in touch with my intuition – the part of me that isn’t thinking. If anything, I prepare more now than ever, because you pick up tools and want to keep your curiosity alive. I don’t know if I can name a single thing, but I love the question because you do have to constantly learn and unlearn.

Some people probably know about your band, Mook – but could you talk about your high-school band, Cherry Revision? angelsdiewithyou
Nobody needs to know about my high-school band, although I appreciate the shoutout. Some of my favourite times have been playing in bands with my friends. Music is still a big part of my life – if I’m not on camera, I’ll probably have my headphones in. When I was 20, 22, my band meant everything, so there was definitely a bit of me that would have liked to be a rock star. There’s a great Walter Pater quote: “All art constantly aspires towards the condition of music.” Music gets into your veins faster than anything. But if you want to be good at something, you have to work really hard at it – there’s only so much time, so acting was the thing for me.

What was it like working with [film-making duo] the Daniels and Daniel Radcliffe on Swiss Army Man? AntZudan
It was so fun. I did that right after doing War and Peace, so I really needed to just go and have fun in the woods and mess around. It’s important to return to your roots sometimes; to make small, creative films with friends. I was already a huge fan of the Daniels’ music videos, so when I got the email saying they had a script, I read it immediately, and was pretty much sold by the end of the second page, when the farting jetski happened.

In an intense industry, how do you stay kind and grounded? Does it change how you approach difficult characters? naenia
I appreciate being thought a kind person. I do think that matters. I love collaboration and I love making friends. Does it help? I think so. Most of us are sensitive people, so I try to find the empathy for my characters, whether they’re “good” or “bad”. It’s important not to approach them with judgment. Even the Riddler has his own subjective point of view of what he believes in, so I try to find an emotional way into that. There’s always a piece of you in every character, whether you like it or not, so you have to ask: what piece of you is at work, and why are you stoking that flame?

Which of your characters would you most like to hang out with? catsdogs7
I can certainly see some of my teenage friends in Dwayne [in Little Miss Sunshine]. I would hang out with Brian [Wilson] again in a heartbeat. I’d like to hang out with Manny from Swiss Army Man, even though he’s not my character – but he’s dead, so that would be fun. One character whose life I wish I could improve is my character from Prisoners, just because he’s in such a tragic and sad situation.

What drew you to The Wizard of the Kremlin? chloemonsterbunnyy
Just how compelling, deeply intelligent and relevant it felt – a story about modern politics and power in a place that we don’t often see behind the curtain of. I think that the writers tried to be as accurate and as truthful as possible. But it is a film – it’s not a documentary.

What advice would you give the 10-year-old you? DasGrump
I think I would say: have more fun. I started working young and I was a fairly serious kid. There’s a great Aldous Huxley quote: “It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly.” I’m able to enjoy my work and my life more now than 20 years ago. So I would say: “Have more fun as a 10-year-old. Play more basketball. Play in your band. Go be with your friends.”