I just like to do work that inspires me, and I don't pay any attention to whether it's a high- or low-budget movie.

I'm definitely not a science nerd, I'll say that. That was not my forte at school.

Making checklists of things you're looking for in a person is the numero uno thing you can do to guarantee you'll be alone forever.

Our culture has a tendency to pigeonhole people and to try to tear down anybody who's breaking out of our comfort zone. That's why we get into these cultural ruts that end up being destructive prejudices. But breaking out of that comfort zone is the most rewarding thing you can do, in your life. I do my best to push myself, when I can.

That you can be whatever you want to be, whoever you want to be, regardless of your gender.

The element of surprise wasn't allowed near the Periodic Table.

When I arrived at Columbia, I gave up acting and became interested in all things French. French poetry, French history, French literature.