Always follow your heart. Sometimes it's gonna hurt - but you're going to be fine.

I can't help but be a different person now that I've had kids. That really does change your whole perspective on life for the better. I definitely feel like I've grown up. So, I guess in a way parts of me are going to be different, but in general I'm still the same girl from the Bronx who had big dreams.

Whenever it feels uncomfortable to tell the truth, that's often the most important time to tell it.

I feel like, when we're kids, you're sold into this fairy tale of what love is. That Prince Charming's gonna come along and save you and you're gonna live happily ever after. They're gonna rescue me from the Bronx, and we're gonna go off and live in a castle somewhere and it's gonna be awesome. He's gonna love me forever, and I'm gonna love him forever, and it's gonna be real easy. And it's so different than that.

Anybody who's had children knows this feeling of deep love. It's a selfless love, an unconditional love. And it makes you kind of examine everything that has happened.

My parents wanted me to be a lawyer. But I don't think I would have been very happy. I'd be in front of the jury singing.

I'd be stupid not to take into consideration that there are certain things people will not consider me for because my name is Lopez. And I know I can do any kind of role. I don't want anybody to say, Oh, she can't pull this off. So those are barriers that you have to overcome.