My parents started with very little and were the only ones in their families to graduate from college. As parents, they focused on education, but did not stop at academics - they made sure that we knew music, saw art and theatre and traveled - even though it meant budgeting like crazy.

And you can't hide in a comedy scene either. You have to give in to the scene and commit.

I don't have this fantasy about marriage anymore. Everyone says it takes hard work. Well, it kind of does - and I'm much more pragmatic about romance than I used to be.

My mother and father always supported my passion for acting. I think they just kind of expected me to move to New York and become an actress and have all these adventures.

It's not a bad thing, is it, to be strong in some ways and fragile and vulnerable in others?

I'm privileged, because I have a lot of freedom. I want to use it to make as warm and normal a life as I can for our daughters.

I adore going to movie sets and being part of a team trying to create something. And yet, I hate to miss even one bedtime with my girls. . . My sisters both are working mothers. I understand that my being an actress as well as being at home isn't some heroic thing. That doesn't mean it isn't confusing or difficult--especially that question of how you find a balance.