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But not all responses to Williams' performance on The Wire have been negative. “I am approached by a lot of young gay men,” he says, who comment on how his role has broken many stereotypes about gay people. “It has had a very positive aspect on me, knowing that someone who is really in the lifestyle, telling me thank you — that meant …
a lot to me.”

Among the many fans who have praised Williams for his work, some have been actual gangsters and drug dealers. Although he has not yet met the real-life version of his character, he has an inkling that he's come close. “I have gotten a few, ‘I really love Omar!'” Williams admits. “I am like, ‘OK, what are you really trying to tell me?'” Williams laughs.

Like many actors, Michael K. Williams draws on his own personality to give his character a voice, and he says that he and Omar share some similarities. “We are very sensitive and very shy,” he says. “Omar is a good boy. He has manners; he is a Southern gentleman. He knows not to curse, and he takes his grandmother to church on Sundays.”

On the other hand, “I know who my father is,” Williams says. “I grew up with good people, even though I grew up in the 'hood. I would have loved to see Omar if he had a chance to finish school and had a good mom and dad in his life. Maybe if he lived in a different part of Baltimore , he would probably become a very influential person in society, 'cause he has …. a beautiful mind and good heart.”

Williams is the youngest of 10 children and the only one in his family to go into the entertainment business. His family, which he describes as spiritual, has been very supportive.

“They still look at me with dread,” Williams admits, laughing. “They support me. I am not from an entertainment family. Very working class. ‘Go get a trade, go to the service, go to the army,' that is the kind of background that I come from. So, it is a little foreign for them. You know, I go to visit my mother and she says, ‘Go take out the garbage.' So, you know, nothing has changed.”

Even at the age of 40, the Brooklyn native still describes himself as a mama's boy. Back when he started working as a dancer at the age of 22, his mother would give him the “You're throwing your life away” speeches. But when he got television commercials and scripts sent to him via Fed Ex, she changed her tune.

In addition to his role on The Wire, Williams has guest-starred on CSI and Boston Legal, and a shot a three-episode arc on Alias. His future work includes a recurring role on the new television series Six Degrees (produced by J.J. Abrams) and a role alongside Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris and Casey Affleck in Ben Affleck's directorial debut, Gone Baby Gone.

“I am in a lot of good company,” Williams says with enthusiasm. “That is my reward from The Wire. I got exposed to a lot of beautiful people.”

Williams says that he enjoyed his experience working with Affleck. “I think [Ben Affleck] has a long career in front of him. He is very passionate about everything he handles. He spent very little time behind that camera and more time on the set making sure the actors were in tune, and sometimes he would sit there and rewrite the whole scene so we feel like we had input. We were right there, cause he is just so hands-on.”

Williams has similar hopes for his future career. “I want to create an environment for people who come from my same background,” he says. “Although I am an equal opportunity employer, I want to create ventures for young talent who probably wouldn't get the opportunity to cultivate and explore it. I probably want to fall back behind the camera in the near future. … I have seen a lot of beautiful people and raw talent. I want to see that grow.”

Get more info about The Wire at hbo.com

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