That's always been my philosophy: I try to just be as straightforward as possible, and then I don't really have to question what I said or regret anything.

I come from musical theater, and a lot of musical theater is about accepting fantasy. I think it is more about just being open and accepting.

Some of these actresses or public personas who are very public about their disciplined diets, more power to them. I just don't see the point. Do you know, the people I love as actresses, I've never, ever sought out pictures of them to see what they look like in a swimsuit.

What I respect in people more than anything is work ethic. And Justin Timberlake's got that. He works his tail off, and he knows his stuff.

Being an actress hasn't made me insecure. I was insecure long before I declared I was an actress.

I saw some musicals at dinner theaters where I grew up. But I didn’t go to a big theater to see one until probably after I graduated from high school when I took myself to see Tommy when it was on tour. I absolutely loved it.

Moving out to L.A. for me was a leap of faith. I was very secure in my dinner theater world; I loved it, and I was just like, 'I think there's something else out there for me and I just have to go for it.'