THE SOPRANOS - GANDOLFINI'S SLEEPLESS NIGHTS OVER VIOLENT SCENES

THE SOPRANOS star JAMES GANDOLFINI has worked out an exhausting method of effectively playing violent onscreen - he goes without sleep for two days before shooting the scene.

The actor has played violent characters both in his hit TV series and in various movies, and he admits sleep deprivation always gets him in the right mood.

He says, "Lack of sleep will p**s you off to no end. Sleep two or three hours a night for two nights before you have a really violent scene. Every single thing that anyone does will p**s you off.

"I'll do a lot of weird things; bang my head on things. You do whatever you need to do. You could put a rock in your shoe, a very pointy rock. Walk around with that all day. I mean it's silly, but it works. You're mad...

"I'll try anything to get where I have to go, as long as it's not gonna hurt anybody."

Gandolfini also admits he drinks six cups of coffee before shooting a violent scene to help get him riled up.