10 Questions for Steve Carell

From The 40-Year-Old Virgin to The Office's clueless boss Michael Scott, he's made hilariously awkward comedy an art form. His new film, Get Smart, is in theaters. Steve Carell will now take your questions

Mary Ellen Matthews / Corbis Outline

Steve Carell

How obligated did you feel to stay true to the original Get Smart series, and how much did you modernize the character? Heather Boyle, HAMILTON, N.J.

It was daunting. I felt that the best way to pay tribute to Don Adams and the show would be to keep from doing an impersonation or a knockoff. They did it, and they did it so well, there's no reason to just duplicate it. We try to take the essence of the show and reinterpret it in a modern context.

You often play characters that are so awkward, they make people uncomfortable. Do you...

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