By the time I left school, I had a lot of tenacity.

Motherhood sort of puts things into perspective, and it's bout real life, and life is about people, what we give, what we take, what we share.

I believe that you can experience very profound moments of change in life...I never would have become an actress if I hadn't dropped out of high school. As a teenager, I was so driven to pursue my dreams that I made a decision to quit school at 17 so I could find my voice as an actress and eventually the profession embraced me.

If you set out to do something and you give it your all and it doesn't work out, be willing to modify your goal slightly. Have the ability to look in another direction. A small shift could guide you to the real purposes of your life.

I guess you could say I have bad taste in men. But I no longer feel the need to be someone's wife.

In Monster's Ball I went nude, which was scary, but I took the chance and that's how I like to approach my career.

I am so ready to be a mommy. I can't wait. I notice every little baby dress, every little baby toy, every little baby thing.