John Turturro on Nearly Robbing Someone to Practice for ‘The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,’ Fighting to Save His 2005 Musical ‘Romance & Cigarettes’ and the Knicks Championship

John Turturro reveals he nearly picked a pocket on the subway while preparing for his role in “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,” but stopped short of actually committing the crime. “I had my hand, like, right, sort of almost in the bag,” he tells Variety. “But then I felt like, well, then I would have to give it back, and I could get arrested.” The actor also discusses his fight to preserve his 2005 musical “Romance & Cigarettes,” a passion project that faced distribution challenges despite a star-studded cast including James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, and Kate Winslet. Turturro, a lifelong New York Knicks fan, also touches on the team’s championship hopes, linking his creative perseverance to the city’s sports resilience. The interview underscores Turturro’s dedication to authentic, risk-taking work—whether method acting on the subway or battling for artistic control—and why his New York roots continue to shape his career.