My mother never wanted me to focus on my physical self. She always said that beauty is what you do.

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.

I knew that I was a good writer in high school and won awards, and I was the editor of my school newspaper. So I knew that I was a good writer and I wanted to somehow capitalize and sort of utilize a talent that I thought I had.

I'm just going to live my life and be who I am.

Beauty is not just physical. It's about what you stand for, how you live your life.

My partner is a Frenchman, so I have got to smell right.

When I got to be about 16,17 I got into a beauty pageant and I was allowed to start playing around with makeup.