I spent a good deal of time going back over my childhood, my midlife, to try to understand who I was. We're supposed to be complete and whole, and you can't be whole if you're trying to be perfect. Doing a life review helped me get over the disease to please.

My mother killed herself when I was 12. I won't complete that relationship. But I can try to understand her.

Beware of men who use words that relate pejoratively to females when describing the 'other side.

I don't think there's anything more important than making peace before it's too late. And it almost always falls to the child to try to move toward the parent.

When I say women are the agents of change, I really should say women and girls.

When I was in my 40s was I simply produced my own movies because no one offered me anything. But certainly after 50 it's hard for a woman, which is why television is such a welcoming thing.

I am still baffled by those who feel that criticizing America is unpatriotic, a view increasingly being adopted in the United States since 9/11 as an excuse to render suspect what has always been an American right. An active, brave, outspoken (and heard) citizenry is essential to a healthy democracy.