I had interest in acting. I started as a drama major in college. I got to school and said, "What am I going to do with this?" But I didn't know anybody in the business, and it seemed like - I don't know. I had a teacher who said "Less than 1 percent of you will ever make a living being an actor." That was how we opened the semester.

I have always been interested in the concept of ruin.

Ultimately, I'm not so sure that, as a person, I'm all that interesting.

I like complicated characters.

When I look back on my childhood, I think of that short time in Beirut. I know that seeing the city collapse around me forced me to grasp something many people miss: the fragility of peace.

Cat lovers turn into cat collectors.

'Little Miss Sunshine' was one of those small movies that you don't hold out huge hope for. It's usually found in small pockets. But, it ended up getting a real following and worked out pretty well.