Martin knew the story very well. He internalized it years ago when he wrote the novella,

[When she initially read the script, Danes was amazed that Martin, a 30-year show-business veteran, could so clearly recall the particulars of his salad days.] Steve was great in establishing those details, ... He's really exact, even with the numbers. We learned how much [Mirabelle] owes, exactly, and what she has to pay off, and you know she has $4 every day to buy her sandwich. This seemingly petty stuff can really impact a person's experience.

This is Steve's personal story -- it's based on his actual relationship. We both have kind of slight frames, and I have dark hair in the movie like hers.

This is Steve's personal story -- it's based on his actual relationship, ... We both have kind of slight frames, and I have dark hair in the movie like hers.

I think Jeremy wants things, and I think that's a great moment when (Mirabelle) says, 'You should just do it,' ... I think she just harnesses it or funnels it into some sort of point, and all of a sudden he has a goal. But I think at the beginning it's just a frustration and a desire to do things, but he doesn't really know how to do them, and that's what sets him off on believing you can make the things that you don't see happen. I think he has ambition; I don't think he's familiar with how that feels.

My first offer was when I was 12, and it was for a soap opera. And I turned it down because I knew that I was an unformed actor, and I didn't want to develop bad habits.