Talking with: Jeremy Piven

Jeremy Piven is all seriousness on the phone discussing his "Entourage" Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for his hilarious turn Ari Gold, the wheeling-dealing agent of young actor Vince Chase (Adrian Greiner).

The 41-year-old actor, whose parents Byrne Piven and Joyce Hiller Piven founded Chicago's Piven Theatre Workshop, has received some of the best notices of his long career as Gold, a high-powered shark who takes no prisoners. And this season, he's opened his own agency after finding himself on the losing end of a power struggle with his boss.

Piven, who frequently appears in films with good friend John Cusack, was a regular on the series "Cupid," "Ellen" and appeared on the classic "The Larry Sander's Show." He'a also appeared in countless movies including "Old School," "Black Hawk Down" and "Runaway Jury."

Q: This is the second year in a row you've been nominated for "Entourage."

A: I kind of feel like it is all kind of amazing that it has happened, to be honest with you. It's really kind of cool. You don't ever want to get ahead of yourself and none of it is lost on me.

I think to be honest with you, you have a responsibility when you step onto any kind of a stage and that was engrained in me my parents, not just through their teaching but watching them act and watching it materialize within their performances. I have a deep respect for the space you occupy when you act, so the fact that we are getting attention for this show and what not is amazing. But at the same time I always felt this responsibility to contribute at the highest level you are capable of.

Q: Laurence Olivier used to create a character from the outside in. How do you create a character?

A: I don't think I'm a good enough actor to go from the outside in. I kind of have to go from the inside out.

Q: When you read the pilot script was Ari all there for you?

A: Was it all there? No. If you were to look at the pilot, I had basically one scene. So you have to base your decision of signing off on a series on one scene. You then have to take many leaps of faith. First of all, the pedigree of shows on HBO are just incredible, so you know you are in good company. And then you have things to hang your hat on and you jump in. It is amazing just what transpired. But I knew this character exists. He is a very specific character who is driven by very specific things and a lot I can't tell you because it's important to keep a certain amount of mystery. Not just for me, but for the enjoyment of watching it. I think the character is a strange, complex, apparently morally flexible guy who is a wrecking ball. And he's just a delight to play. I'm having a blast. I am lucky to have this job and I am thinking of ways to get better.

Q: How do you get better? Do you still go to class, talk to other actors, go inside yourself?

A: Every job is completely different in terms of the time you put into it. It is a momentum sport. So how do you get to the point that by the time they shoot it, you are really in motion? You have to run it and you're ready to go. You are going to hit the ground running. Along with all of that you have to also really be available to collaboration. The director, Doug Ellin, who is the creator of the show, already has great insight into the world and keeping things straight That is the artist's journey and I love it. What a great job. What a job!