Globes Fave Hoffman Calls Acting 'Torturous'

A virtual shoe-in for a Golden Globes award tonight, Philip Seymour Hoffman insists that his supporting role in Doubt came "at a price"—as have most of his other parts as a veteran character actor. “For me, acting is torturous, because you know it’s a beautiful thing,” Hoffman tells the Guardian. “Wanting it is easy, but trying to be great—well, that’s torturous.”

Hoffman says he still questions his ability after acting in 40 films. “You'll have nights where you wake up at two in the morning and think: I’m awful in this,” he says. Citing his range and dedication, colleagues describe Hoffman as self-protective, burdened, curious. Doubt writer/director John Patrick Shanley recalls him being "in hell" during the shoot: "Phil just shrugs and sort of jokes: 'Hell? That's where I live.'"
(More Philip Seymour Hoffman stories.)