James Gandolfini Stands Up For Working Class  3/17/06

Actor James Gandolfini uses his art to stand up for the working class - because he feels they are badly treated.

The Sopranos star, 44, particularly enjoyed researching for his role as Nick Murder in new romantic comedy Romance and Cigarettes, because his character is a normal man affected by every day issues.

He says, "People really interest me, especially the way things affect them.

"It's basically why I became an actor: I have this big passion for the lower-middle class and the blue-collar guy - it's how I was brought up, and I don't like the way our country treats them.

"By becoming an actor; well, I found this job lets me, on occasion, stand up for the blue-collar guy, in a small way."