Michael Madsen's dog advice

07-08-2008 13:30

Michael Madsen received his best ever acting advice from a dog.The 'Reservoir Dogs' actor says performing alongside the animal in a stage production allowed him to understand whether or not he was giving a good performance.He explained: "I was in a stage production of 'Of Mice and Men' playing a guy who in one scene takes the dog out and shoots it. It happens off-stage so all you hear is the gun shot. "When I was really in character, the dog would cringe and whimper and I'd have to drag him off stage. And everybody in the audience would be horrified because they knew what was coming."But some nights, if I just didn't have it together, the dog would kind of trot off like he was going for a walk and it killed the whole scene."He was sort of like my acting teacher and I think he brought out the best in me. I wish he was around now."Michael - who is about to portray a biker out for revenge in 'Hell Ride' - also admitted he used to worry about being typecast as the bad guy.