- Is he as disturbing to play as he is to watch? I guess the question is, after a day’s filming, do you feel like you need a hot shower?

Well, I might be covered with sticky fake blood, or whatever (laughs). So to wash all that off, of course I need a shower (laughs). But I certainly don’t take the guy home with me, nor do I hate myself for playing him or anything like that.

It behooves any actor to always stay on the side of his character and to be his best friend. And that’s the way I feel about him.

- So too has he evolved throughout the series. Is that something that’s brought you back, film after film?

The arc of any character is the most interesting part of it... That and playing the scenes so they seem like they’re happening for the first time, I mean, the special effects and all of that these guys are very good at what they do.

But the actors need to create what appears to be reality on screen. That’s the challenge. And that’s not always an equation that’s easy to arrive at.

- You’ve enjoyed a long and prominent career prior to Saw. How do you see these films in relation to it?

As a very interesting twist in the road. You know what it’s like. I mean, you could say everything I had done prior to this was a preparation to doing this. And everything I do, doing this, is preparation for the next thing I’m going to do.

You learn something from everything that you do and I’m very grateful for the opportunity. I mean, I never thought that I would be the central guy in a successful franchise like Saw. If that happens to you once in an entire career, it’s amazing.

The rest of my life, though, is totally the way it was before. You know, I get, perhaps, recognized more. Still, people come up to me and say, 'Hey you’re the guy' And I think they’re going to say, 'from Saw,' and they say, 'from Seinfeld,' (laughs). Or, 'You’re the guy from Mississippi Burning,' And I’m always like, 'Yes - there we go!' You know, I did do some other things along the way here.

-What was it like working with first time director, Kevin Greutert? What does he bring to Saw VI?

He brings his editing experience, which is giant in the Saw franchise; he’s been putting them together since the very first one. He’s also a very smart man. He understands the films. He understands the connecting of the dots and where there is potential richness. And that’s great.

We know the special effects. We know the traps. We know the twists and the turns. But in terms of shooting the actors in the moment, it’s... The camera sees everything, you know.

And the smallest moment between two people is giant on the screen. That’s not something mechanical. It’s something human. A director who can get that from his actors, has got a lot.

- When will you be directing a Saw film?

They asked me about that, (laughs). I told them it was way too much work! [But] the truth is that I really do want to direct one of these. I’m just waiting for them to come to me again. I’ll have a better answer next time. Like, 'Yes.'

- What’s the atmosphere like on a Saw film? Is it different from other movies? Perhaps a sense of levity amidst the intensity?

You could say that. But once I’m doing a scene, if it’s an intense one, I’m not the kind of actor that does a take and then starts horsing around, because I know we’re going to do another take in five minutes.

I don’t work that way. Some people do, and I understand people work differently, because the days are so long. 

- Is there a sense of family there?

I don’t know if you’d call it a family, but it certainly is a group of people who’ve worked together many times and know each other very well. We appreciate the continuity and the support that we give each other... I’d call it more of a team.

-Unlike a family who might be fighting the whole time...

Exactly (laughs) Maybe that’s why I rejected the notion of family (laughs)... I feel the same way!

-What are your hopes for Saw VI?

My first hope is that the fans who love Saw think it’s a strong film and that it tells a good story.  And then its success will follow that. Our first responsibility is always to our fans.

Lionsgate releases Saw VI on DVD and Blu-ray on March 8th.

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