Thats where the voice came from.
A kind of a Madonna-esque affectation.
[Laughs]
Did you see what he [Megamind] looked like before you took the part?
They have that all drawn up.
[Laughs]
A lot of your comedy is visual, obviously.
How difficult is it to just project your voice to get the effect you want?
Any of the scenes that had an emotional through-line were hard to articulate with just my voice.
[Laughs]
Ive a lot of respect for people who can easily do that.
But it works well, when you see the finished film, doesnt it?
Yeah, and they have your back, too.
What emotions do you draw upon when youre doing the voice work?
What do I draw upon?
Do I think about dead kittens, or something like that?
Youve worn numerous crazy costumes in your movies.
Was it a relief to not have to worry about those?
Did you have a lot of acting time alongside Tina Fey and Brad Pitt?
Tina and I had to do a couple of recording sessions together.
As you guys probably know, the norm is to be by yourself.
You record with another actor, but usually not with the actor youre in the scene with.
[Laughs] I dont know why.
…whereas now youve got anti-heroes in family films.
I think maybe all the other avenues have been exhausted.
[Laughs] To the point where someone thought, Oh, lets tell the story of the anti-hero.
As we find out, its not everything he thought it would be, and its an empty existence.
Whos your all-time favourite movie villain?
You know, Im not an aficionado on the whole superhero genre, in a way.
I do remember in the Michael KeatonBatman Returnsfilm, with Danny DeVito as the Penguin.
I remember thinking, heres the guy fromTaxi, and hes a really creepy, evil and weird villain.
Thats one that sticks out for me.
What do your kids think ofMegamind?
They couldnt decipher the fact that I wasMegamind, and asked, Are you in a costume?
I had to explain that it was kind of like a cartoon.
Do they appreciate what you do for a living?
The oldest one is just starting to know.
I think because his friends at school say, I saw your dad.
It was like, Hey, buddy, let me talk to you for a second.
And I asked him how he felt about that, and he said, Okay.
Im fine with it.
[Laughs]
Youre a fairly regular visitor to Ireland, withStep BrothersandTalladega Nights.
Are you thinking of doing a film there anytime soon?
As soon as the studios let me, Id do it in a heartbeat.
Because the country could really do with a boost right now.
[Laughs]
I could save the economy with one movie!
Are you kidding me?
Id love to work over there.
Its funny doing interviews in France this is only the second movie where Ive been able to go there.
And theyve said, You dont like coming here.
[Laughs]
And I tell them, its not me, its the studios.
Theyre not willing to promote the movie over there.
The characters inMegamindremind me of rockstars.
Was that a conscious decision?
In talking to Tom, there was a conscious decision to haveMegamindbased on Alice Cooper, someone like that.
And part of his whole persona is the pageantry of what he thinks a bad guy should be.
What film has come the closest to how you initially intended it to?
Is there one or two in particular that you look back on and think, That was perfect?
The studio didnt understand it.
The head of marketing was openly telling the media, I dont get it.
[Laughs]
Is that the one that gets quoted back at you most?
Do you get people shouting lines of dialogue?
I guess Ive been fortunate enough to have been in a number of things that are fairly quotable.
It just depends on the crowd.
A number of movies get shouted back at me, to the point where… [Laughs] Why are you sweaty?
[Laughs] Oh, sorry.
What was it like to get the Forbes [most overpaid actor] award?
I think its a badge of honour.
Arent we all striving to be overpaid for what we do?
Then all of a sudden it flips.
I dont know whos doing the calculations.
But now, Ive had two hit movies, so maybe Ill descend the ranks into profitability again.
I know how to fix the balance.
I wanna be in the nextTerminatormovie, and do it for one dollar.
And then itll make a few million, and Ill be real value for money.
[Laughs]
Where did you get your comedy shaping from?
Who influenced the way you perform?
I think I got a general love of comedy from my parents, in a way.
And then I loved the first, original cast ofSaturday Night Live.
My dad turned me onto Peter Sellers as a kid.
The other influence is Steve Martin.
He doesnt make sense!
Every time he speaks, he doesnt make sense!
But that was the point.
[Laughs] Thats why hes in there.
I presume people look up to you now…
No.
[Laughs]
Did you plan to get into movies afterSaturday Night Live?
Will Ferrell, thank you very much!
