Michael Pitt

Often plays characters that are twisted or troubled. For example, Paul in Funny Games (2007), Blake in Last Days (2005) and James in Boardwalk Empire (2010).

According to a NY press interview, his departure from Boardwalk Empire, after two very successful seasons, was due largely to artistic differences and disagreements over production direction. While both Pitt and the producers wanted the James Dermody character to remain in the story line, they felt it best not to continue as the disagreements were affecting production too negatively.
His favourite movie is My Own Private Idaho (1991).
Plays guitar and sings in the band Pagoda.
Appeared in the Joey Ramone video, What a Wonderful World, with then-girlfriend Alexis Dziena.
Some of the music he likes is early David Bowie, Iggy Pop & The Stooges, Pixies, Operation Ivy, Sonic Youth, Ramones, Sex Pistols and The White Stripes.

[on his director, Bernardo Bertolucci]: There are two kinds of directors: There's the kind where two plus two equals four, and you have to help them figure it out. And then there's the kind that throws you in a room, locks the door, sets the house on fire and films it.
All these directors who do different locations forget that one room can be shot from a million different angles and a million different ways. When I direct a movie, I'm going to use that.
[on Innocents: The Dreamers (2003)]: I was nervous for the sex scenes. It's tough for an American actor, because it can be looked upon very badly. It's a serious risk to take in your career. It's risky with the studios and with the American public. It's looked down upon in American culture at a serious level. It could be perceived not as work but as pornography. Every time I was nervous about it, I would remind myself that possibly I was going to be a part of something that was going to change those attitudes. I don't agree with those values at all. It's totally fine showing someone getting their head blown off in America and you can't show the human body. I think that shows something about the culture.
I think in some ways you learn more from the things you don't like than the things you do. What you want, and what you don't want.
I just do movies I like. I mean, I do movies I would want to go see.