More of this Feature "HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS" CAST/CREW INTERVIEWS: • Rupert Grint ('Ron'), Emma Watson ('Hermione') and Producer David Heyman ADDITIONAL INTERVIEWS: • Daveigh Chase ("The Ring," "Lilo & Stitch") • Sarah Chalke ("Scrubs") • Brian Dunkleman ("American Idol") • Sara Paxton ("Greetings from Tucson") ADDITIONAL "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" INFORMATION: • Photos from the Premiere of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" • "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" News, Trailer, and Websites • "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" Production Photos

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TONY SHALHOUB

Can you tell me about your role in “Against the Ropes?”
I play this guy, Larocca, who is a boxer promoter/owner. He's a cross between somebody like John Gotti and Don King. He's kind of Meg Ryan's character's main adversary in the movie. She's a woman who wants to become a manager and she's trying to break into this completely male dominated world of boxing. My character is trying to keep her out of the 'boys club.' It's based on a real woman named Jackie Kallen who really did this.

What kind of research did you do for this role?
First, I went back and watched a lot of old boxing movies to get ideas from them. You won't remember these movies, they are before your time - John Garfield's “Body and Soul” and there was “Somebody Up There Likes Me” with Paul Newman. I looked at a lot of old pictures.

This movie, “Against the Ropes,” even though it takes place in contemporary times, it really has a feel of a 40s movie. The dialogue is really kind of slick and stylized. I was able to draw from those older films.

Are you a boxing fan?
Sure, oh absolutely. Ali was unbelievable.

How hard was it establishing yourself as a character actor?
I'd love to tell you the story that it was just impossible and torturous but it was fun the whole way. I was lucky to work pretty steadily, and to work with really good people. I have no regrets about how long it took.

An now after so many years of being a well-known character actor, you've become a leading man. How does that feel?
It feels kind of the same, strangely enough. It feels good. Now they yell "Monk" everywhere I go.

You have your daughter with you for tonight's premiere of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets." Is being a dad in Hollywood different than being a dad elsewhere?
Yes, it is. You get used a lot to meet cool people. You're not really necessarily the coolest guy in their life. You are a conduit to the really cool people.