SUBMITTED BY Timbo

March 24, 2004 — The star of "The Punisher" and "Stander", Thomas Jane, talked to USA Today about his roles in both films.

"I love guys who are at odds with themselves," he says. "I don't think there's an actor out there who is filling that niche for tough-guy movies the way they used to be made. Nobody is taking the place of guys like Charles Bronson or Steve McQueen or Clint Eastwood. That's what I want to do."

Jane's chameleonic nature is what sold Stander director Bronwen Hughes: "When I first saw him on tape, I thought I was looking at one of a number of actors on a composite reel. Then I realized these were all the same guy. He can change his look and demeanor so easily."

Jane dismisses the compliments with a wave and a grin: "I just want to be as good as some of the guys I learned from, like Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman. Billy Bob Thornton said something that stuck with me: Find out what kind of animal you are, and be that animal. I'm finally discovering what kind of animal that is."

Which is?

"The kind that wants to make hard-boiled, hard-nosed, take-no-prisoners punk-rock action movies."

Read the rest at the link below.