Ismail Merchant was just the most seductive, passionate, outrageous, driven, genius of a man.

It's not good to be in a situation where people don't want to direct you or don't want to question something.

It is very difficult for girls. They're told to look one way, but to act another way.

I have the belief that truly evil people, it's a genetic evil. I only have the experience of exploring the landscape of some of the characters I've played that people have labeled as evil; I don't think they're evil.

What's so fascinating about people is what they don't show. People are masters at it; usually actors show too much.

So I'm always inspired by my fellow actors. And that's kind of a constant for me. I have huge respect for our profession and our craft. And I seek in my work to create connections, first for me with the character and then the character with the other actors, and then ultimately, all of us together connecting with the audience in a way that sometimes is subliminal, even.

It puts you in a kind of a strange situation where everybody is looking at every little thing you do.