Wallace Shawn: One on One on Al Jazeera

This week on One on One, Riz Khan talks with the enigmatic actor and playwright, Wallace Shawn. 

His is a face that is universally known from numerous parts in Hollywood movies and popular television shows.

Shawn usually plays the comedic support role but outside his film personae, he is also an accomplished writer. 

He has been writing plays since he was at college, usually touching on deep, psychologically profound ideas and sometimes the dark side of human nature - a contrast to his generally warm and easy-going nature. 

Shawn explains the origins of his interest in writing plays and how he was influenced by his intellectually charismatic father, the legendary William Shawn, who edited The New Yorker magazine for 35 years.

Shawn is also openly critical of an America that he believes has stopped being a positive force in the world, and is often setting a bad example on issues such as torture and human rights abuses. 

Part One:

http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/oneonone/2009/09/200993010553380...

Part Two:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-b6rQwqZcI