It [motherhood] has changed absolutely everything. I mean, it's changed my life. I think I've changed as a human being more since I've had Kai than in any other period in my life...It's such an incredible catalyst for growth. I found myself questioning absolutely everything: how I spend my time, how I speak, what kind of projects I work on, how I look at the world.
Jennifer ConnellyIf you get too attached to how you want it to come out the other side, you freeze. I try to trust that it will work out in the end.
Jennifer ConnellyI have a thing about honesty; I think it's crucial to a relationship. Otherwise, one person holds all the power. It's healthy to be straightforward, and it turns out you can wind up weathering a lot. Knowing that everything is on the table - what you see is what you get - lends a sense of safety.
Jennifer ConnellyWe're blessed to be worrying about the silly things that we worry about when people are worrying about where they are going to sleep, and what they are going to feed their kids every day.
Jennifer ConnellyI do finish reading a script and say, Why are they making it and what are they talking about? I like to try and be responsible in my choices in that way.
Jennifer ConnellyYou can't predict what someone else is going to do and when someone else is going to leave
Jennifer ConnellyThat's a great feeling to know that I'm going into a project that I have no idea what will become of that movie, but I really trust Ang Lee. And I really trusted Ron. It's just really nice to work with people that you feel that way about.
Jennifer ConnellyI had to stand in front of my refrigerator, which was open, dipping pretzels in cream cheese and stuffing them in my mouth. If I did that, I was good. Otherwise I was nauseous.
Jennifer ConnellyI don't know if I was a star. I was certainly working a lot and that was strange because there were good things about it and things that were difficult.
Jennifer ConnellyI don't always like my own behavior. I haven't known anyone who is perfect all the time.
Jennifer ConnellyI'm not one of those people who thinks they simply deserves success. I have the drive to work. Maybe that's why I've stayed on the fringe.
Jennifer ConnellyGrowing up, being watched from the outside... it's kind of very taxing and maybe I should just do some kind of manual labor-it might be more relaxing. But I can't, it's not in my nature.
Jennifer ConnellyIt's funny looking at yourself. You know how it is when you look back at old pictures? It's just funny looking back at yourself walking and talking at age 14
Jennifer ConnellyI feel more comfortable in my own skin now than I ever have...I think there's something about loving Kai [her son] so much, in a way that I've never loved anyone, including myself. Also, I used to spend a lot of time alone, but he's this incredibly social kind of guy, so all of a sudden I'm always having people in and out of my house. It's changed the way I feel as a citizen of the world. And it's really important to me to feel good about what I'm working on, to justify the number of hours I'd have to be away from him.
Jennifer ConnellyI try to stay focused on my life and do try not to be brought into the Hollywood fantasy.
Jennifer ConnellyI felt for a long time that this is what I want to do so I'm happy at this point to just take my time and work on projects that I feel strongly about, and the rest of the time just live my life
Jennifer ConnellyI had a good time working with Russell Crowe, Ron Howard and Ed Harris. It was a great cast and Russell worked really hard, doing tons of research and questioning everything
Jennifer ConnellyYou don't want to get rid of your experiences, because they're your experiences - good or bad - and you need them, but it would be great if they weren't on the video shelf!
Jennifer ConnellyNeither my husband nor I am interested in mincing words. If I break something, for example, I have to announce it. I'm a compulsive confessor.
Jennifer ConnellyYou make mistakes as a parent. Then you wish you hadn't said that, or you wish you hadn't told them how to dress. You cringe.
Jennifer ConnellyEverything changes as a mother. Yes, work has changed. The projects that I choose are even more important to me now. The world he's growing up in and the kind of stimulus that is out there; they are so precious and I'd do anything to protect him
Jennifer ConnellyPeople who are incapable of having any kind of intimate relationship have to turn to feeling this incredible hunger and void, have to turn to some quantifiable external product to make them feel whole.
Jennifer ConnellyI try to do a lot of research beforehand so I know where I want to go with a scene. I try not to get too stressed about it, because I find that's the worst thing
Jennifer ConnellyIt's so hard to keep perspective and keep things in context, and it's so easy to get distracted. This film [Shelter] reminded me how important it is to remain aware, and to keep seeing the things that are happening around the world.
Jennifer ConnellyDark Water was one of my favourite films to shoot because of Walter. I had seen the previous films he had directed, Central Station and Motorcycle Diaries, and I thought they were great. I really trusted him
Jennifer Connelly