Woody Allen, the legendary director, writer and comedian, is not what most would consider intimidating. He is short, scrawny and wears large rimmed glasses commonly associated with the garden-variety dork.

Yet, without the brawniness of a lumberjack or the traditional good looks of the Hollywood elite, Allen carries with him an intellectual and creative superiority that leaves even the hottest and most famous actors hesitant to make a mistake or seem foolish.

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, who stars as Chris Wilton in Allen’s newest film, Match Point, remembers the first time he met Allen.

“Woody walked in the room and was such an identifiable character,” Meyers says.

Both he and co-star Emily Mortimer were unaccustomed to the style of Allen’s technique.

“There was not too much rehearsal,” Meyers says. The attitude was more along the lines of “let’s work.”

Mortimer, a more seasoned actor than Meyers, feels Allen’s style was “incredibly different” and was surprised that “the first time we said the lines was the first take.”

Although he admits the prospect of working with Allen was at first intimidating, Meyers found “Allen is so easy to work with” and the experience to be “a fantasy.”

“Woody is very intellectual,” Meyers says. “He’d rather be Eugene O’Neill or Tennessee Williams.”

Mortimer was surprised how “incredibly exciting” the experience was and there is “something democratic about the process in Woody Allen films.”

She also witnessed Allen’s treatment of women in his films.

“He was very fastidious about girls’ appearance,” she says. “[He] wanted everyone to look as natural as possible.”

Allen was also very particular about the music that plays throughout the film. The operatic tradition that plays throughout the film was something Meyers was not used to, but he felt it made the film something different.

“I didn’t have to do anything to prepare,” Meyers says. “I bought La Traviata, and it seemed to fit the film.”

For Meyers, the opera recordings throughout the film give Match Point an “extra string to its bow.”

Both Meyers and Mortimer were entranced not only by the music, but also by the characters they portrayed.

“The one thing I knew was that she was in love,” Mortimer says. “[She was] genuine for her feelings for [Wilton].”

The upper-society character Mortimer plays, Chloe Hewett, is under the impression that “if you are born privileged, you expect life to be that way forever,” Mortimer says.

Meyers quickly empathized with his character because the more deeply dramatic roles suit his “physicality more.”

“I felt simpatico with the character,” Meyers says. “The choices he made — I could see his side.”

Meyers didn’t need to do a lot of research to play Wilton and could understand him easily. He felt as though he “works hard sub-consciously” and feels “jealous of other writers who write notes in their scripts.”

Meyers has a different take on the philosophy. Instead of leaving fate to decide itself, Meyers believes “luck is preparation meeting opportunity.”

The actors also enjoyed working with their fellow cast members. The film co-stars Scarlett Johansson, Matthew Goode, Brian Cox and Penelope Wilton.

“Scarlett Johansson is a clever actress,” Meyers says. “[She has] a talent that is very rare.”

Mortimer is also proud of the performances of her co-stars.

“Both boys (Goode and Meyers) gave such compelling performances,” Mortimer says. “It was really wonderful seeing everyone rise to the challenge.”

To Meyers, the cast of Match Point is perfect because it adds a “volatile chemistry to the film.”