I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, and in spite of what most people might have expected from a young girl growing up deaf, life for me was like one long episode of The Brady Bunch. Despite whatever barriers were in my way, I imagined myself as Marcia Brady skating down the street saying “hi” to everyone, whether they knew me or not.

I was 21 years and 218 days old when I received the Academy Award for Best Actress. I had just stepped into an imaginary world that I'd seen at a distance for years.

I'm not broke. Like everybody else, I owe money.

I'm not really deaf; I just faked it to win the Oscar KIDDING.

I have made the choices that work best for me. I know I cannot please everyone, and that's fine.

When I was 13, I told Henry Winkler I wanted to act. He said, Do it and don't let anyone stand in your way. His validation just made it all the more true. I haven't stopped thanking him since.

I listen to Billy Joel. He is fabulous. I saw him with Elton John when they toured together, it was so great.