My greatest fear when we were doing "Body Heat" was that I wouldn't be sexy. I didn't have a self-image of myself as this alluring, powerful, sexual female.

I'm very practical. What I'm reaching for is individualism for women

If my ego was out of whack and I believed I could carry anything off, that would be a stupid risk. But so far there's been no reason not to try anything.

Get more women producers, writers, directors. Why should we expect men to do it for us? They can't

I know there are nights when I have power, when I could put on something and walk in somewhere, and if there's a man who doesn't look at me, it's because he's gay.

One of the things I do tell young women, if they want to pursue a career in acting, is to get good stage training. It is essential to have a good basis in stage technique. You can move into film easily, and acquire more skill and more understanding, but you can't necessarily go the other way around. For women, longevity of career will very much be on stage.

I want people to like me. They don't have to always like my characters, you understand