I've always taken my love of children from my father. He was a children magnet. Suddenly having my first child hit home what my dad went through.
My grandfather had two boys my uncle had three boys my dad had me and my two brothers each of my brothers have had two boys. Then something happened with the chromosomal experiment and suddenly I've got three girls.
Sitting at the table during Color Purple and looking up and suddenly realizing I was acting in front of Steven Spielberg was pretty cool. It was pretty good.
And of course I've got kids of my own now and they love me being in the Harry Potter films. I'm now part of a phenomenon. You become incredibly cool to your kids and you get a young fan base. So you became the cool dad at school. You're suddenly hip.
It's interesting to feel the pressure of having to be outgoing because I think in general as a human being I'm pessimistic and introverted. But it's cool because it's a whole different side of me and I impress myself. Even at times when I think that there's no possible way that I can be engaging I'll suddenly pull it out and impress myself.
Like a welcome summer rain humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth the air and you.
In a way song writing can almost be detrimental because suddenly you find an outlet that is a kind of cheating. You don't need to have direct communication. You can say 'I can't describe it to you but I will record it and send it to you.'
But I think it's more that when you're young you're invincible you're immortal - or at least you think you are. The possibilities are limitless you're inventing the future. Then you get older and suddenly you have a history. It's fixed. You can't change anything. I find that a bit disturbing to be honest.
Everything can change at any moment suddenly and forever.
My very best friend died in a car accident when I was 16 years old. That was the hardest blow emotionally that I have ever had to endure. Suddenly you realize tomorrow might not come. Now I live by the motto 'Today is what I have.'