Nicolas Cage tells Marilyn Manson he once gambled $200 into $20k and gave the money to an orphanage

Nicolas Cage opened up about one of his greatest lucky streaks during an off-kilter new Q&A with friend Marilyn Manson for Interview magazine.   

After waxing poetic about his career and craft, Manson asked the Leaving Las Vegas actor, 56, about his gambling habits, seeing as he resides in Sin City.

Cage’s answer came with quite the story, as he revealed he hadn’t bet on anything since turning $200 into $20k – and then donating the proceeds to a local orphanage – during a trip to the Bahamas 30-years ago.

Lucky: Nicolas Cage told a wild story about how he once turned $200 into $20k while gambling. His anecdote came up during a wild conversation with friend Marilyn Manson for Interview magazine

‘The last time I gambled was about 30 years ago,’ The Con Air actor explained. ‘I was in the Bahamas, and I walked into a casino and felt like I had my mojo with me, like nothing could go wrong.’

He was right. 

‘My game was roulette,’ the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola said. ‘I went in with $200, and I didn’t miss a number, so much so that even the lady spinning the wheel said, “Nothing sweeter than a repeater.” 

‘In 20 minutes I turned $200 into $20,000, so I went and found an orphanage in the Bahamas, met all the kids and the headmistress, and said, “This is for you.” 

‘I put the 20 grand in her hand, walked away, and never gambled again, because if I did, it would ruin the power of that moment.’ 

On a roll: Though Cage lives in Las Vegas, he told Manson the last time he gambled was 30-years ago when he hit in big in the Bahamas and then gave all the cash to a local orphanage

On a roll: Though Cage lives in Las Vegas, he told Manson the last time he gambled was 30-years ago when he hit in big in the Bahamas and then gave all the cash to a local orphanage 

High-roller: The Leaving Las Vegas and Honeymoon In Vegas actor actually lives in Sin City

High-roller: The Leaving Las Vegas and Honeymoon In Vegas actor actually lives in Sin City

Cage’s chat with Manson veers from deep talks about art and acting to wine to his iconic snakeskin jacket from the 1990 David Lynch film Wild At Heart. 

He snagged the legendary jacket worn by character Sailor Ripley at a thrift shop on Melrose Avenue, attempting to mimic Marlon Brando’s cool in The Fugitive Kind.

The piece of clothing was fundamental to Cage, but it was Andy Warhol art that helped the actor shape the unforgettable role as the charming Southern felon.

‘In rehearsals, I had this epiphany. I was thinking about Andy Warhol, because I believe that what you can do in one art form, you can do in another. He took icons like Mick Jagger and Elvis Presley, and made collages out of them. I thought, “Why can’t you do that with a film performance?”

Lots to talk about: Cage's chat with Manson veers from deep talks about art and acting to wine to his snakeskin jacket from the 1990 David Lynch film Wild At Heart

Lots to talk about: Cage’s chat with Manson veers from deep talks about art and acting to wine to his snakeskin jacket from the 1990 David Lynch film Wild At Heart

Iconic: He snagged the legendary jacket worn by character Sailor Ripley at a thrift shop on Melrose Avenue, attempting to mimic Marlon Brando's cool in The Fugitive Kind

Iconic: He snagged the legendary jacket worn by character Sailor Ripley at a thrift shop on Melrose Avenue, attempting to mimic Marlon Brando’s cool in The Fugitive Kind

Playing off that idea, he decided to add a bit of Elvis Presley twang to Sailor.

He told director Lynch: “I’m going to talk like Elvis Presley. I think Sailor has some sort of a connection with Elvis, and that may be the source power that moves him.”

‘And then he said, “Okay, but you’re going to have to sing a couple of Elvis songs.” I’m not a singer, but I said I’d do it. It was my way of giving him Cage, Warhol, Presley, and Brando in one performance.’

Though it’s one of Cage’s more beloved roles, he wasn’t terribly sentimental, revealing that co-star Laura Dern actually has the jacket now.

‘Yeah. I gave it to Laura Dern at the end of the shoot. She has it somewhere in her closet,’ he told Manson.

Memento: Though it's one of Cage's more beloved roles, he wasn't terribly sentimental, revealing that co-star Laura Dern actually has the jacket now

Memento: Though it’s one of Cage’s more beloved roles, he wasn’t terribly sentimental, revealing that co-star Laura Dern actually has the jacket now