Often Hollywood crews go into third world countries and I don't believe they behave well.

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.

As an actress, it's part of your job to be able to imagine just about anything - even if it's not within your personal experience.

With a group of people, a troupe of actors in the theater, you go out on tour, and you're like a traveling circus. It's very sociable, and there's a real community, and it's very intense, and then you may never see them again. That was very appealing. I mean, it wasn't consciously appealing, but I think a lot of actors like that.

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

I want to play interesting women.

I think if you ask the audience to like you, it's all over.