Exploring female rage on film doesn't frighten me - it might frighten a lot of people in my business, but, gosh, I know a lot about that, from personal experience and friends' experiences.

There's something timeless and important about making people laugh, about being the right spot in their day.

But like Elle Woods, I do not like to be underestimated.

Obviously, this isn't the time in my life that I would have chosen to do this, but I feel like life gives you these challenges for a reason. I feel so happy and glad to be in the place that I am. I really feel blessed. This is something I need to face and take control of.

This is a movement to say we're more than just our dresses. ... It's hard being a woman in Hollywood or any industry.

I'm encouraging these women, like Cheryl Strayed, to take the jump to writing for the screen. She is adapting her book Tiny Beautiful Things for us. They're infinitely capable of tackling the format.

We need to give artists a lot of free room to create.