John Leguizamo, one of the stars of M. Night Shyamalan's latest thriller, "The Happening," says he enjoyed working with the filmmaker. The movie - filled with Shyamalan's characteristic plot twists and surprises - follows a pair of teachers as they flee a mysterious pandemic that prompts millions of people to do themselves in. "I just saw it last night for the first time and it was beautiful. I felt kind of queasy - which I think was a good thing," Leguizamo told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday.

Working with Shyamalan (director of "The Sixth Sense,""Lady in the Water,""The Village") was "pretty amazing," the 43-year-old actor said.

"He's an amazing speaker, so philosophical, incredibly deep," Leguizamo said from his New York home. "I love working with people like that, I feel like my sense of the world expands."

Leguizamo's screen credits also include "Romeo & Juliet,""Summer of Sam,""Moulin Rouge!" and Salvatore Stabile's "Where God Left His Shoes," which is expected to be in theaters later this year.

He said "Where God Left His Shoes" is his "best performance ever." Leguizamo plays a bankrupt boxer who survives with his wife and two children for months in a homeless shelter rather than split up his family.

"It's a beautiful true story," he said. "It's so honestly told."

Colombian-American Leguizamo said his experience growing up in an immigrant family has helped him in his work.

"I think as an artist, it's better to be an outsider because you have a better point of view of things - a more interesting point of view," he said.

Written By SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

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