Bill Flanagan interview of Bob Dylan

In 2009, MTV producer Bill Flanagan sat down with Bob Dylan to discuss several topics pertaining to his 33rd album, Together Through Life. Flanagan pressed Dylan on a number of topics, including his opinions on The Rolling Stones, Hollywood actors, and Hitler's Germany. In his typical interview fashion, Dylan offered cryptic answers to all the questions asked, leaving Flanagan a bit off guard.

The most valuable information in this interview is Bob Dylan's opinions on the differences between acting and performing. Initially, Dylan explains to Flanagan how his performances are "me who's singing that, plain and simple," totally different from actors who "will say 'my character this' and 'my character that.' It's like beating a dead horse." He goes on to explain how this act is not even sincere to him, since Alec Guiness' portrayal of Hitler to him still means "he's not Hitler. And neither is anybody else. Hitler was Hitler." These comments By Dylan give us an excellent insight into Dylan's impressions of Hollywood acting, an integral part of understanding the relationship between the two entities.