AUSTIN, Texas \u2014 Everyone wants a piece of Marshawn Lynch. In the past few years alone, the all-time great former Seattle Seahawks running back<\/a> \u2014 known for stealing opposing teams\u2019 dreams<\/a> just as he does scenes in everything from the acclaimed comedy \u201cBottoms<\/a>\u201d to the upcoming third season of \u201cEuphoria\u201d \u2014 has been everywhere.<\/p>\n He\u2019s appeared in shows like “Westworld” and \u201cMurderville\u201d and films such as “Freaky Tales,” “Love Hurts” and \u201cSigning Tony Raymond,\u201d making him one of the more prolific athletes-turned-actors of his generation. It\u2019s easy to see why: Lynch, even in small parts, has charisma and presence to spare, ensuring he always leaps off the screen with the same flair with which he was once able to fly high over a defensive line to score a touchdown<\/a>.<\/p>\n To Lynch, the two experiences, acting and football, may seem like separate skill sets, but they aren\u2019t all that different to him. He also doesn\u2019t like to watch himself doing either, preferring either a director or a coach take a look at his work, and then connect back with him.<\/p>\n \u201cI got this thing when it comes to watching playback,\u201d Lynch said, referring to the footage the director, crew and cast watch to assess a scene. \u201cWhen it comes to watching the work, I like to let the folks see it and have a conversation with me. Then I\u2019ll go back and watch it.\u201d<\/p>\n In a recent interview atop a rooftop bar in Austin, Texas, where Lynch was at the SXSW Film & TV Festival with his upcoming film, \u201cHe Bled Neon,\u201d he recalled going through similar experiences after a big game. He said that while the work is different, his feelings about it remain the same.<\/p>\n \u201cWith watching game footage, we\u2019ll come in after Sunday on that Monday to go back through the film. It\u2019s more for teaching purposes. That was a lot of the time when I would get my rest. I\u2019d sleep through meetings. I probably shouldn\u2019t be saying that,\u201d Lynch said with a laugh.<\/p>\n With acting, Lynch said he\u2019s always looking to learn from each new collaborator. This started when working with director Emma Seligman on her queer sex comedy \u201cBottoms,\u201d which gave him his first major role as a teacher-turned-adviser for an after-school fight club, and extended to working with creator Sam Levinson on \u201cEuphoria.\u201d In all his projects, Lynch said, he wants those directing to give feedback to him straight so he can learn for the next take.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I\u2019m doing some (expletive) and it don\u2019t read, and I (expletive) up, then they say, \u2018This is what I\u2019m looking for,\u2019 it\u2019s like, OK then, I\u2019ll go and watch it now, I got you. That way I can fix my mistakes,\u201d Lynch said. \u201cI come from a background of taking accountability for what you do. So if I\u2019m out there and I\u2019m giving a piss-poor performance, let me know, so that way I can go and fix it.”<\/p>\n Lynch said he first talked about this with Seligman, whom he told directly he wanted to be treated like any other actor rather than like a former football player. Their collaboration resulted in Lynch giving a comedic performance that went toe-to-toe with comedy heavyweights<\/a> like stars Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want you to look at me as an athlete. I want you to handle me as if I\u2019m any of the other actors. I make that clear before we even get started on a project,\u201d Lynch said. \u201cThen we are going to have a great working relationship and I\u2019m going to be able to be on top of my game.\u201d<\/p>\n