While Victor Dorobantu might play a disembodied hand in Netflix’s Wednesday, the real-life magician behind the beloved character, Thing, has a lot to say.

Gushing to Vanity Fair about the chance to play the “big personality in a small hand,” the 25-year-old from Romania recounted auditioning for the scarily popular Netflix series and meeting Tim Burton.

Though the self-proclaimed lifelong Addams Family fan says that he felt an instant connection with Burton, who served as executive director on Wednesday, the legendary director kept one secret from him (as any good magician should).

“I never asked about this! I wish that Tim would tell me what he saw in me, but I remember that I went to the casting with no expectations. It was a casting house in Bucharest,” Dorobantu told the publication when asked if he knew what ultimately landed him the role. “A couple of days later, someone called and said that I’m one of the last three of the magicians that were chosen. And when I got to Buftea Studios near Bucharest, I was there and two other magicians from Romania that I’m a big fan of were there. I was like, ‘I have no chance. These guys are a lot better than me.’”

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Dorobantu Recalls First Meeting with Burton: ‘It Was a Connection From the First Moment’

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While Dorobantu seems mystified that he was chosen over the other magicians, it becomes obvious why he was handed the role as he recounts his first meeting with Burton.

“The moment I met Tim, I just felt that we had a connection because when I put my hand on the table and we started talking, my hand was moving without [my] knowing. I was playing Thing while I was talking with Tim Burton,” he shared. Burton, who directed four episodes of the Netflix series in addition to executive producing, was instantly a captivated audience member—and that was before the added magic of VFX.

“So I guess Tim saw in front of him an actor and the hand separately. So it was a connection from the first moment,” he added, noting that he’s played Thing as “a kind human being” from the get-go. “I see Thing like the hero. He’s trying to save everybody. He’s trying to love everybody. He’s trying to do whatever he can to help,” Dorobantu said.

Catch the lovable disembodied companion who’s always ready to lend a hand in Wednesday, streaming now on Netflix.