Ewan McGregor on Stepping Behind the Camera for the First Time

In the crime drama American Pastoral, Ewan McGregor stars as a Jewish American businessman named Seymour “Swede” Levov, whose seemingly perfect life crumbles after his daughter (played by Dakota Fanning) is accused of committing a violent political act.

McGregor is no stranger to dramatic roles, but the film does mark a new venture for him as it was the first time he directed a film.

“I’ve wanted to [direct] for so long…almost as long as I can remember,” the actor told BackstageOL’s Dave Morales in an interview.

“I always felt like a filmmaker as an actor…I think if you’re interested…in why the director is doing what he or she is doing, why the cinematographer is using the camera in the way they are…You’re not just wheeled out to say your words and wheeled back to your trailer again, at least not in my case,” he said. “And I’ve always had an interest in how a film is made, and I love working with the crew, and I have a technical side of my brain that works when I’m acting with the crew. There’s things you have to think about. People are pushing the camera or the focus pullers on a tight lens. You should be aware of these things as you act so that your performance is going on the screen. Otherwise, it’s out of focus or you’re out of shot, so part of your brain is filmmaking as your acting.”

“And I just wanted to experience the greater picture, the greater creative conversation from, in my case it was from the script that I had read and loved written by John Romano right to the very last day of our sound mix eighteen months later when I walked away from the movie going ‘Okay, that’s it! I’m done! I can’t do anymore! That was it,'” he added. “And I loved it. It was thrilling. I felt like it was a great honor to be able to direct these actors and with this crew on Philip Roth’s amazing novel.”

American Pastoral hits theaters this Friday, October 21.

Watch the full interview below: