When I did Sean Penn’s movie, I think I was living in, like, a $500-a-month room, and someone called me up or bumped into me and asked me if I’d come up to work for a day. That sort of got me going a little bit. But it wasn’t until Sin City [2005] that I kind of got back into the game.

I spent a lot of years trying to beat the system and, in the end, the system kicked my behind good.

I never knew my father, and I'd hate to repeat that kind of cycle with my own children, because I'd also want to be there for them no matter what.

I thought my talent would transcend my outspokenness. I was wrong.

I did think for many, many years that because of my ability I could beat the system. And I was wrong.

[The tension] between the Christians and Muslims goes back to the Crusades, doesn't it? It's too easy to blame everything on one guy. These are unpredictable, dangerous times, and I don't think that anyone really knows quite what to do.

Evan Rachel Wood is the best actress I've ever worked with, hands down.