In families there is always the mythology. My father died when my kids were quite young still, and yet they still tell his stories. That is how a person lives on.

At a certain age, death becomes familiar to you-or a loss becomes familiar-the tragedies that are more commonplace in life.

If I didn't have children I'd be a much better actress. I wouldn't be so distracted. I could pour 100 percent of my energies into it, to promote the investigation which acting is.

It comes down to something really simple: Can I visualize myself playing those scenes? If that happens, then I know that I will probably end up doing it.

I regret those times when I've chosen the dark side. I've wasted enough time not being happy.

I had a big family - two older sisters and a younger brother. My family was like moving around a lot so I lived in a lot of small towns. My father was very restless.

I've been thinking a lot about next year, which will be the first time in 25 years that I don't have a child at home.