I'm not confident around compliments or being celebrated, and I'm not comfortable with the thought of envy, which some people thrive on.

You know, in America, Christian fundamentalism vs. science. You know, be it teaching Darwinian evolutionary theory or stem cell res- You know, the whole thing, and then the issue of women being educated in Middle Eastern - I mean, it just seems so contemporary. In terms of spirituality, it's interesting because I actually think (her character in Agora) Hypatia is very spiritual.

There's not much room for eccentricity in Hollywood, and eccentricity is what's sexy in people.

I'm thinking of doing more theatre. It makes me very happy.

The most interesting characters are those you're drawn to, then repelled by, and then come to understand. All that tension - I live that. But I don't plan the tension. It's just something that should happen.

The bond between mother and baby is so interesting. Women have been giving birth since the beginning of time, but when it happens to you it feels like a miracle.

You have to be quite stupid to act.