Jason Schwartzman saved by acting

Jason Schwartzman was delighted to be offered an audition when he was 17 because it was the first time he felt appreciated for being himself.

Jason Schwartzman always felt he was the "wrong person" until he broke into acting.

The 31-year-old star was delighted when he was offered an audition for his debut movie 'Rushmore' after a chance meeting at a party when he was 17 because he finally felt he had found his role in life.

He said: "Someone paid attention to me! I was so used to people talking to me to get to my friend instead.

"I'd always felt like I was the wrong person. But then I read the script and there was an explosion in my brain. Everything I find funny was right there."

The 'Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World' star - whose mother is 'Rocky' star Talia Shire and his uncle is filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola - also claims he never wanted to be an actor when he was younger, because he didn't like the hair cuts many child stars had.

He explained: "This woman used to cut my hair as a kid and surrounding her mirror were little head shots of child actors with spiky hair dressed as cowboys and everything.

"And I just thought, 'Man, that's not me,' and that's why I got into music."