Leguizamo Has Come Far With Sense Of Humor

Comedic, ethnic impersonations are a specialty for John Leguizamo, who plays baseball player Wesley Snipes’ agent in the Robert De Niro psycho-drama “The Fan.”

The Colombian-born Leguizamo (“To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar,” “House of Bugin’,”) has a renowned talent for exaggerating stereotypes.

1.Do you think it’s important to laugh at ourselves?

Leguizamo: Exactly. If I didn’t make fun of myself, I would never have left my house. Somebody was always laughing at me growing up and I wanted to laugh at myself before anyone else did. That made me comfortable.

2. What was it like working with a legend like De Niro?

Leguizamo: The first time I saw him I was beside myself, jumping around. I was trying to be cool like it was no big deal, y’know. As soon as he left, I started jumping up and down, doing cartwheels in my dressing room. I was like: (singing) ‘I met De Niro, De Niro came to see me, I’m really special…’ Seriously, the more you find out they’re real people, the more they become even more god-like. It’s like, ‘Oh my God, they even have human qualities.’ 3. You’ve played everything from an oversexed 13-year-old to a transvestite hooker to an entire six-person family. Is there any role you won’t tackle?

Leguizamo: You know what I won’t do? Those romantic comedies where the characters just don’t have the wherewithal to say how much they love each other. And you just want them to say they love each other but they can’t. And they keep chasing each other until the end of the movie when they finally kiss and it drives you insane… Damn, I hate those kind of characters.

4. Are you still discouraged by the roles Latinos land in Hollywood?

Leguizamo: It’s made huge improvements. Look how many Latin actors there are. I mean, there are so many of us and the roles we’re getting are increasing. Things are definitely changing.

5. So, no more street-hood roles?

Leguizamo: Well, I love villains. I want to play villains and drug dealers. But I want to be the MAIN drug dealer. I want to be Public Enemy No. 1.