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 live my life like everyone else; everyone has their own obstacles. Mine is deafness.

I am writing my second novel for children for Simon and Schuster.

All I can say is I've been reading the lips of bleeped-out words, angry baseball players, and stoned-out rock stars on awards shows for years and it's been hilarious. Everyone is always asking me what the bleeped-out parts are saying.

It was ability that mattered, not disability, which is a word I'm not crazy about using.

I find the mantle of, she works hard for the money, or, she's overcome so many obstacles a bit overused.

I got a good handshake. A lot of executives tell me I have the best handshake in Hollywood.