I've been really interested in focusing on the aspects of my Russian heritage I'm proud of. I'm actually em­barrassed to tell people I'm Russian, because it's become such an awful place.

I feel lucky to be in whatever I'm in. I feel lucky to be working.

There's only a handful of people I trust completely, and I know who they are. Other than that, I pretty much don't trust people.

Communism destroyed so many generations. I look at my grandparents and their generation, and it's as if their lives were taken from them. It's really sad and frightening that something like that could have happened. But I don't really think of myself as Russian anymore. I didn't even live there for that long.

I think its important for movies to recognize that they are part of a history of movies. I also think that most movies are about movies anyway, even if they're about something else.

I don't hang out at trendy Hollywood bars.

The ability to have a choice in what you do is a privilege.