In a recent interview with Emmy Voters, Liev Schreiber who plays the titular role in Ray Donovan, spoke about what it took to get him to agree to do a television show.

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One of the main questions that came up was about why Schreiber, who had mostly stuck to cinema before the Showtime series, agreed to take on the television role, that too playing a professional fixer to the stars. Before Ray Donovan came along, Schreiber had been known to turn down various television parts.

It seems like show creator Ann Biderman knew just the trick to reel the Slavic actor in. Schreiber suggested that when he was discussing the part with Biderman, she invoked his masculinity. He recalled that she screamed to him in the hotel lobby saying, "You have to do this show! I need a man!"

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This seems to have really caught Schreibier's attention. "I'd never been called a 'man' in such direct terms. I said, 'Yes, you're right. I am pretty masculine. I probably should do that show,'" he joked.

Schrieber was also nominated for a Golden Globe for his work on the show this year.

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The second season will premiere on July 13.

Ray Donovan airs on Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime.

Watch a promo for season 2 here:

Tags: Ray Donovan Season 2 showtime television