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William H Macy is one of America's best losers. He's at his best when playing down-on-their-luck or average joes, like the hapless plotting husband in Fargo; the starchy father in Pleasantville; porn industry lowlife in Boogie Nights; and one time quiz show whizz-kid in Magnolia. Ironically he's now starring in a film about one of America's most unlikely winners: he plays charismatic commentator Tick Tock in Seabiscuit.

Why is your character Tick Tock sceptical about Seabiscuit's abilities as a racehorse?

Seabiscuit had an eating disorder. He's one of the only racehorses in history that they had to put on a diet! He ate twice as much as any other horse. He was almost narcoleptic. Other racehorses were so wild they would kick their stalls to death. Seabiscuit would roll over on his side and sleep the whole day long. They shipped the horses by train in those days and they had to give drugs to most of them to keep them calm. Seabiscuit would sleep the whole way! He was the most unlikely racehorse. I mean, some really smart people said: "He's lame. Put him down."

So why do you like his story so much?

I just love stories about people or racehorses where all they needed was a chance, for someone to say: "OK. I'll give you a shot."

What did you enjoy about playing Tick Tock?

I'm used as the Greek chorus. It's very cagey the way our writer and director Gary Ross used me because, as I change and adopt the horse and grow to love the horse, so does America. So my character allowed Gary to move the plot along quite craftily.

What did you make of Tobey Maguire's performance as Seabiscuit's jockey?

I was really, really impressed by these jockeys. They are supreme athletes. I mean, they are perched on three corners on a wild animal, going about 40 miles an hour! Tobey did some serious riding in this thing. They had to keep him safe, of course, but these jockeys are the real deal. Pound for pound, don't mess with them.

Seabiscuit is released in UK cinemas on Friday 31st October 2003.