[from E! Online, 1998]

Why did you decide to play such an asshole?
I learned a big lesson when I did a play in L.A. last winter called D Girl, in which I played this cokehead screenwriter who was really abusive. Afterward I had people in the Industry who had never seen me do anything but Friends come up and say, "I didn't know you could act." I tried not to be insulted, but what I realized was, Oh my God, people really think I'm Ross! That hit me so hard I decided to seek roles as far away from him as possible.

What is it about Max Abbott that makes him so unappealing?
I realized when I read the script this was an opportunity to create a character who was, in many ways, the complete opposite of Ross. Doug Ellin knows my range better than most people. He knew full well what I was looking for, too, so he came to me with this character in mind.

Are you more like Max or Ross?
I'm probably more on the scale toward Ross, because I tend to think before I act. Max has no thought processes at all; he's an animal, a Neanderthal. He sees something he wants and tries to get it. On the other hand, I'm more similar to Max in that I'm more sexual and more aggressive. If there's something I want, I go for it. I just think about how I'm going to go for it.

Ross seems to have developed an edgier personality since the breakup with Rachel.
It's intentional. The writers and I acknowledged that this is a guy who's now been through two major heartbreaks, and he's finally become a little more cynical and wounded. Now he's in love again, with a British character, so I guess there's hope.

Any truth to rumors that this season will end with a wedding in England?
I've heard those rumors, too. The writers won't disclose yet what the story's going to be. But I know we're all going to London as a cast.

What do you think Seinfelds's departure will mean for Friends?
Of course, I think everyone on the show would love to move to 9 o'clock. We'd have a slightly bigger audience and a little more creative freedom in terms of some of the jokes we tell, how risqué we could get. Honestly, though, I don't see it happening. If the public can count on the same 8 o'clock leadoff and ER at the same time, then the loss of Seinfeld won't feel as big as if the whole schedule is changed as well.

That second contract you all negotiated together commits you for two more years. Think you'll re-up then or welcome the chance to devote more time to film and theater?
Well, this last year, I was able to do two plays and four movies in addition to the show. The producers are very accommodating in terms of scheduling, and in combination with that, the six of us really have a blast. As long as it's still fun and challenging, and as long as audiences still want to watch it and the writing stays as good as it is, I'd be insane to leave the show.

You mean you aren't sick of one another yet?
Actually, all of us were at Jennifer's birthday last week, up till 1 a.m. at her house playing charades. We try to make an effort to go to the others' plays or premieres or whatever. We're really invested and want to see one another succeed. I think we all realize, better than anyone, that in a couple of years the show will be over. What will we be able to take from that experience? Hopefully, great friendships with these people.

Is it safe to presume friendship means a lot to you?
I suppose that, outside of my family, it's the most important thing. I'm fiercely loyal to my friends, and I really cherish my friendships. There's a constant rotation of people from Chicago staying at my house, and I'm still close to a lot of people from high school. There must be something I get from it on a much deeper level, just in terms of growing over the years.

The other side of that is you choose your friends very carefully.
I don't tolerate any kind of dishonesty. I bring a lot to the table with my relationships, so I really expect the same. If I have a problem with something a friend does, I get it out there right off the bat. I really demand that my friends keep me in check, too. With the success of the last three or so years, when a lot of people start treating you differently, there's a danger that you may start to think of yourself differently. You rely on your friends to say, 'Hey, wake up!'

It must work. You even have a knack for staying on the good side of ex-girlfriends, like singer Natalie Imbruglia.
She's still a very good friend of mine and a very talented singer and actress.

And you're dating your Kissing a Fool costar, Mili Avital?
Aah...I mean, I remain great friends with Mili. Very good friends with her.

Speaking of relationships, many people seem to be inordinately concerned about the chemistry between Ford and Heche in Six Days, Seven Nights.
I'm not around in the scenes where they're stranded on an island together. But I know from working with Anne, because I have some romantic scenes with her, that she's just incredible. I mean, if I can have chemistry with this girl, there's no question in my mind that he would, too.

Any regrets about turning down Will Smith's Men in Black role?
The people in my theater company put off a play and turned down other jobs that summer in order to be in the movie I was directing [Dogma]. So, I'd committed to them, then two weeks later I got the offer for Men in Black. It was like, I can't do it. That's it, no discussion.

Ironic, then, that we'll probably never see your directing debut.
Well, due to disappointment over The Pallbearer's performance, I had both legally and emotionally what could be considered a divorce from Miramax. As a result, I have a feeling that Dogma won't have a theatrical release. I know it'll come out on video and, maybe, later this year on ABC. But the movie itself is terrific. I was pretty much able to cut it like I wanted to. I didn't want to change the title [now Since You've Been Gone], and there were other impositions by Miramax--but the movie itself is intact.