As an artist, I feel more strongly than ever that my job on earth is to tell the stories of the invisibles, and women have been invisible on film for a long time.

Art is art. Television has elevated itself, in certain ways, but it's always pushed people's consciousness.

I thought I was going to go back to Stanford, and then I got Election. I loved being an actor.

Being a Southern person and a blonde, it's not a good combination. Immediately, when people meet you, they think of you as not being smart.

I'd always ask my grandma, who was so, so smart, why she didn't work, and she would explain that her parents didn't approve of her working after she had children. She didn't feel like she had choices.

That said, I'd love to do a musical, either in film or on stage.

When you finally accept that you're a complete dork, your life gets easier. No sense in trying to be cool.