In particular, for my character, Celeste [in Big Little Lies], there was a way in which we wanted to present her, because she has sort of barriers that she has to put up for protection because of things that are going on in her life. Yet she wants to be, I suppose, very presentable but neutral.

Even as a child I had a strong relationship with yearning and desire. And loss. Those things spoke to me.

It was very natural for me to want to disappear into dark theater, I am really very shy. That is something that people never seem to fully grasp because, when you are an actor, you are meant to be an exhibitionist.

I suppose expectations are strange and I shy away from them. And the whole point of being an actor is to connect.

My choices in films are spontaneous.

I yearn for things, but at the same time I am just peaceful.

I'm a woman, a mother, a daughter, a sister. I'm a real person operating in the world. For me to discuss the most private thing feels wrong. It feels like I'm betraying myself and my children.