Nicolas Cage did an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session and here are 15 amazing answers that left us in awe

Editor's note: This article was originally published on April 28, 2022. It has since been updated.

Nicolas Cage possesses a surreal, larger-than-life quality that distinguishes him from his peers. Despite the ups and downs in his career, his fans have remained steadfast, captivated by the unique magic only he can bring to the screen. Cage is seeing a resurgence in his career after delivering powerhouse performances in "Pig," "Mandy" and "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent." Nicolas Cage has never been on social media, so Reddit users were in for a pleasant surprise when the actor did an "Ask Me Anything" (AMA). While AMAs are common among celebrities, Nicolas Cage truly elevated the experience with his standout engagement with fans. He thoughtfully responded to each question, even dedicating entire paragraphs to topics as varied as his favorite pasta shape and his fondness for bees.

What really shone through in the AMA was his passion for the craft and for life itself. Each answer was so honest and passionate that it felt like users were able to piece together this amazing actor and what his life is like beyond the screen. He also recalled spending more money than he had to woo a girl in school. Here are some of the amazing replies he gave during the AMA:

1. What's the movie quote you hate most when strangers holler at you in public?

2. What movie can you watch over and over and still not get bored?
 

3. What is your dream role that you have yet to complete?
 

4.  Dear Mr. Travolta

5. Did Adam West inspire you?

"One of your most fascinating performances to me was as Big Daddy in 'Kick-Ass.' When you were crafting that performance, was Adam West the biggest inspiration for your superhero persona, or were there other sources you felt you drew more heavily from? Thank you, and have a great day!"

6. Three films you would preserve

"If only 3 of your films could be preserved for posterity, which 3 would you choose?"

7.  Art of acting

"Ethan Hawke said that you're the first actor since Marlon Brando to do something new with the art of acting. Any thoughts on that?"

8.  Who is a director you would like to work with?
 

9. What's your favorite pasta shape?
 

10. What drew you to "Pig?"

"'Pig' was an absolutely incredible film, what drew you to that project, and why do you think that it struck a chord with so many people?"

"Pig is my favorite performance of mine, and I think that movie, along with Scorsese’s "Bringing Out the Dead" are arguably my two best movies as a whole," said Cage.

11.  What are your favorite non-work-related hobbies?
 

12. Who is your favorite character in all of literature and film? 

"That is so hard to answer. I will say that James Dean’s performance as Cal in 'East of Eden' is largely the reason I became a film actor. His role in that is one of my favorite characters in cinema. But then we can go all the way to Rasputin or we can go to Dmitri Karamazov," he wrote. "Dmitri Karamazov is one my favorite characters in literature. I love him so much because he’s so happy and he has no money. He’s just living it up. He spent all his money trying to get the girl. I did the same thing once. I was very Dmitri Karamazov in high school. The most beautiful girl in high school who was a grade older than me invited me to the prom but I had no money. My grandmother gave each of us a little bond. My older brother bought a car. My second oldest brother bought some stereo equipment. And I splashed out on a chauffeur-driven limousine, a tuxedo, and a four-course meal at Le Dome on Sunset Boulevard. The car was $2000, the stereo was $2000, and my prom night was $2000, and man, that was money well spent. THAT’s Dmitri Karamazov."

13. Difference between “meme” and the word “gag.”

"Is there a performance of yours you feel gets misunderstood by fans who turn it into a meme or gag?"

"Well, let’s talk about the difference between 'meme' and the word 'gag.' My understanding is that 'meme' represents a symbol of a pop-cultural movement of sorts. A 'gag' is somewhere in the realm of a diss and I don’t look at anything anymore as a diss. I see it more as a recognition of some sort of expression," he wrote.

14.  Do you like bees?

15. What genre of movies do you like best?
 

16. Favorite period in history?

"Thank you to everyone who tuned into our chat this afternoon. It was a real pleasure for me to have some communication with all of you. As I’m sure you might know, I’m not normally on social media so it’s nice to meet you and to talk about all sorts of fun things, and especially the movies," signed off the actor.