The pre-shoot days are so relaxed and fun and the writers are laughing. I love the rehearsal process.

Great drama is all about conflict, and what's a better conflict than Republican-Democrat?

I can't imagine trying to be in recovery. I mean it would be hard enough with just life going along in a nice way, but then when awful stuff happens, how you maintain the strength to get through it?

Annette Bening should've won Oscar for American Beauty. I mean, I know Hilary Swank was there, she was so great too... Annette deserves one. She better win. I'm an Academy voter, and I voted for her.

The live aspect is so thrilling, I get nervous again. It's like going on stage.

I got offered that role in Transamerica that Felicity Huffman did. That was a part that I was like, "Well, maybe I should've done that." I'm at peace with it, but that is one thing that I did turn down that went on to do great things for her. I wonder what would've happened if I would've done that.

I never watched Lost. I just thought it would be fun to be part of something that was such a big part of pop culture. But I thought I was going to be acting with more of the other people. I didn't know that I was going to be on my own on the island, doing this whole other storyline.