Gabriel Macht

Once upon a time, superhero roles were considered career-killers. But not anymore, not with Christian Bale, Will Smith, Robert Downey Jr. and Hugh Jackman proving that if the glove fits, you should wear it. Still, for Gabriel Macht, who suits up as the latest masked man in "The Spirit," which opens Christmas Day, there are new and different risks in this modern era of cinematic crime fighting.

As Gabriel Macht parks himself at a table at Il Cielo in Beverly Hills, his polite, smiling demeanor doesn't immediately suggest that he would be the type to burst into performance over a public meal. But that's exactly what this sturdily handsome actor did just over a year ago to land a coveted part in the indie drama "A Love Song for Bobby Long."