Q&A with Stanley Tucci of "Lovely Bones"

But with all the great roles and success Tucci has enjoyed lately, he’s also endured great tragedy. His wife, Kate, died of cancer last year, leaving him to raise three school-age children on his own.

Recently, Tucci phoned to talk about the challenges of playing the part of George Harvey in “The Lovely Bones,” as well as what he’s up to next.

Q: You must have had some trepidation about playing a pedophile and a murderer?

A: Yes I did. I don’t like to watch movies or read stuff about that subject. But I ended up doing it because I thought the story was beautiful and I thought I would be in safe hands with Pete.

Q: How do you prepare for such a role?

A: It was harder because of the subject matter. Your whole organism tells you that you don’t want to do it, but you do want to do it, because it’s a fascinating study, and you want to create a real person. It was a real challenge, but once you start to get into it and find the real pieces that make up Mr. Harvey and put them all together, it’s very exciting.

Q: Even the physical look, with the hair and mustache, is pretty creepy. How did you come up with all that?

A: Doing the research, it seemed to me that this is how the guy should look. I talked to Pete about it and we all agreed that we needed a look that was appropriate for the period and the place. He needed to be a very banal and very nondescript American male. But it’s a combination of a bunch of serial killers from that period. I added a little stomach thing and some teeth, just to make me feel different.

Q: In the book, the rape and murder and its aftermath are much more graphic; what are your thoughts about the way it’s handled in the film?

A: I think it’s handled beautifully. I know some people are complaining that wanted to see more. But to me, why would you ever want to see that? This is much more poetic, and leaves much more to the audience’s imagination. And it’s much more profound this way. In the book, she’s describing this act, but you’re imagining it. On film, you’re not imagining it, you’re seeing it. That’s a huge difference.

Q: As an actor who’s also a writer and director, what was your experience working with Peter Jackson?

A: I shoot very simply. I don’t use any pyrotechnics. I’m not interested in the technology of films, necessarily. He is incredibly visual. He likes to work from the visuals first. It was a great experience to work that way as an actor, because you get a whole other perspective on things. It’s pretty fascinating.

Q: Even though “Julie and Julia” was released earlier, you actually shot it after “Lovely Bones.” Was that quite a transition?

A: It was the antidote. It was very refreshing. I was able to go in and just have a ball.

Q: The last few years have been perhaps some of the greatest for you, with “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Julie and Juila” and “The Lovely Bones.”

A: When I did the “The Devil Wears” I was having difficulty finding a job, to be honest. There was nothing for a long time. But the past year or so has been extremely satisfying.

Q: But obviously, with the death of your wife, it’s also been about as tough as it gets. How are you doing?

A: I’m OK. But it’s really pretty awful. It was a long struggle, and poor Kate fought really hard. So this is all great, with what’s happening with the movies, but one of the reasons it is happening is because of my wife. She was so supportive of me and I learned so much from her. I would never be where I am today without her.

Q: So what’s next — TV, theater, film projects?

A: Steve Buscemi and I have a production company together. We have two TV series in production. One at TBS, called “Good and Evil,” which is an animated comedy about twin brothers separated at birth that Steve and I will do the voices for. The other one is a series for HBO and its about a sort of an Eliot Spitzer-like figure after the downfall, and I would play that person.

I have a movie I hope to direct this summer, called “The Hunter,” with Pierce Brosnan, Patricia Clarkson, Julianne Moore and Maggie Smith. I’m doing a movie called “Burlesque.” And then I’m directing a Broadway play called “Lend Me a Tenor,” with Tony Shalhoub.

Q: You’re really busy.

A: I’ve got to keep busy. I didn’t work for almost a year and a half when Kate got sick. So it’s time to work again, as long as my work doesn’t adversely affect my family life. I have 9-year-old twins and a 7-year-old.

I like to stay home and cook dinner for them. I miss it when I don’t do it. I find it very relaxing and fun.