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.

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

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

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.

My whole thing is, I collect what I know I want to read, and I have certain bookshelves in my bedroom that contain all the books I haven't read yet.