Quick Talk With Christian Slater

Were you particularly tech-savvy before you took this role?

I have to give my wife credit for being more savvy with that stuff and paying closer attention. An actor equals, sometimes, an entitled baby. People take care of things. In the past few years I have learned a great deal more. I pay my own bills now.

You play the titular Mr. Robot. Who’s your favorite robot?

The first thing that comes to mind is the robot from Forbidden Planet. But that could be me trying to be kitschy, cool and cultural, because the real answer is R2-D2.

Mindy Kaling recently confessed a childhood crush on you.

She’s mentioned me in a couple episodes of The Mindy Project, and my wife and I are huge, huge fans–I was charmed by it.

Some 26 years after Heathers, how does life as a former teen idol treat you?

I’m an actor–I have an ego that is sometimes disproportionate to the reality of the situation. Sometimes people come up to me and say, “You were my teen crush.” I’m touched, but I also ask: What happened? Why’d you take the poster down? I get a little heartbroken in that situation. It’s hilarious that a human can be that insane. I’m honored, and I feel a pang in my side.

You’ve played Christian Slater in episodes of The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm. What’s the secret to playing oneself onscreen?

You can’t try to be yourself. The less that I did, the better it all felt. Relax, go with the flow, and just try to stay the hell out of your own way.