whole life, i've never had to ask anybody for anything, you make me beg. >> what are you talking about? >> you're embarrassing me. why do you want to make me feel so bad? >> you were nominated for an oscar for that, but i've got to think it was even more gratifying to be accepted and embraced by robert de niro and martin scorsese? >> yeah, i mean, that was my goal. i said, i want to be able to sit opposite robert de niro and hold my own. that's my goal. that's it. >> mission accomplished. >> mission accomplished. that was my goal. that was my whole goal. to me, he was, was, is the greatest actor working. and i wanted to be able to have the skill set to work with him. because improvisational actor and embodies his characters fully and completely. he's housed in these characters that he plays, and i wanted