I come from a line of great Sicilian women, and their mentality is to endure and push through to the other side.

The '80s was a really creative and brave period. Remember, it was a period of ultraconservatism, and so you needed brave people to push ahead like that.

When you become famous, they don't give you a handbook.

I don't know many people who don't have somebody in their family who's a part of the gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender community. It's not like they're aliens or outsiders. This is family.

Understand where it is you want to go. Then picture yourself there. If you can picture yourself there, then you can be there. Bottom line.

If you saw me without makeup, you wouldn't recognize me.

I don't have good business sense. You never get much money for the arts. But I like independence. I like to grow.