I loved New York. I made enough money and studied acting with Kenneth McMillan, which was my first formal training.

I had three influential teachers. The first was Uta Hagen. The second two, Bobby Lewis and my late husband, Charles Kakatsakis, were both from the Actors Studio.

I was born and grew up in Vandalia, Illinois, a small town of about 6,000. It was farm country, and this was the little county seat.

New York, oh my God, in my early 20s. I felt, this is home, this is really where I belong.

I loved New York. I made enough money and studied acting with Kenneth McMillan, which was my first formal training.

The thing I always thought of myself as was an actress. I never thought: I want to be. It was always: I am.

It's in my nature to feel, 'I could be this! This could be mine!'