I just get really defensive as soon as anyone comes near my personal life. I made a decision early on that it's strictly off-limits. No exceptions.

I believe it is my duty as a performer to raise issues in the world of things we're afraid to look at.

I was physically abused and I retaliated.

To be honest with you, a lot of directors can be very lazy.

I respond very well to well-written material and women who have had an effect on society, something tragic or monumental has happened to them.

I think there's a very fine line between the type of performing that some actors do, and being in a state in your mind where you actually believe what's going on. If we weren't actors, what would we do with that ability? Would we not be slightly insane? Mentally ill? I don't know.

It's fantastic to strive towards a nice life where you eat nice organic food and your children go to a nice school and you can afford nice clothes and nice perfume and the hypoallergenic make-up. But there's never a day goes by, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, that I don't think about where I'm from.