Ron Perlman as Nino in Drive
Ron Perlman: As I learned more about the project almost everybody had been brought on board. Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks. A phenomenal company of performers. Nicolas Refn, a very stylish filmmaker.
We're in business. You pay 300 grand for this piece. It's the inside that counts, not the outside, right Shannon? I pay 300 for something I want everybody to see.
Ron Perlman: Nino's a New York guy. Sort of mid-level gangster. But not Italian. A Jewish guy, who kind of is an Italian wannabe.
Nicolas Winding Refn (director): When I spoke to him he said: no, I always wanted to play this role. I said: what do you mean? I mean, you've done so many great films. He goes like : well, I always wanted to play a Jewish man who wants to be an Italian gangster. And I said: why? He said: because that's who I am.
Adam Siegel: He knew this character inside and out. He got it. Because he's lived it.
Ron Perlman: But Nicolas. He just doesn't think like anybody else I've ever worked with before. And that's the joy of it. It's that he's asking me to do things. Like right on the spot. And there's a theatricality to Nino now that I don't think any of us were aware of.
Bryan Cranston: Ron brought a really intimidating factor to character of Nino.
