I think that "Gilmore Girls" did so many things well, and it was a very feminist show in a time when that wasn't really being portrayed at all. The show made it cool to be a smart girl. That certainly wasn't happening at the time - you were surrounded by beauty shows and teen soap operas. "Gilmore Girls" felt very apart from everything else that was happening.

I certainly think I have aspects of Paris in me.

I think I can get a little passionate about things that I believe in and maybe that can be a little intense for people. And I think a lot of that stuff comes out of the need of wanting to belong, and being insecure and uncomfortable.

I think that "Gilmore Girls" did so many things well, and it was a very feminist show in a time when that wasn't really being portrayed at all. The show made it cool to be a smart girl. That certainly wasn't happening at the time - you were surrounded by beauty shows and teen soap operas. "Gilmore Girls" felt very apart from everything else that was happening.

I think, when people so strongly associate an actor with a character they play - but the main feeling is I feel very happy that I've been able to play somebody that people connect so strongly to. That's overall a very good feeling. There's the sweet and the sour, I guess. It does sting a little bit. Your insecurity as an actor maybe seeps in, but ultimately I think it's a very lovely thing. It doesn't happen that often. It's mostly good, I'm fine with it.

The interesting thing about a lot of serialized television is that it's a blessing and curse. Smart writers really take their time in investing in backstories and characters. As a viewer, you have to invest in them and love them before you can chip away at what's going on more on a deeper level with secondary characters.

A decade is a very long time to be away from somebody.