First I'm going to thank Don because when you thank your husband at the end of the speech they play him out with the music and I want him to know that everything I value most in our lives you've given me.

The progression of roles you take strings together a portrait of an actor, but it's a completely random process.

I have a very good life - I'm lucky enough not to be deprived.

People will say to me, ‘You’ve played so many strong women,’ and I’ll say, ‘Have you ever said to a man, “You’ve played so many strong men?”’ No! Because the expectation is [men] are varied. Why can’t we have that expectation about women?

It's amazing what you can get if you quietly, clearly and authoritatively demand it.

I had this sort of idolatry for certain actors who preceded me, people who inspired me, so I'm honored to be that way for young actors.

All that attention to the perfect lighting, the perfect this, the perfect that, I find terribly annoying.