I was able to say to everyone, 'Would you be willing to take a role that you've cherished and worked on for a long time and change it to female?' And there was not any hesitation, which was a real win. That hopefully shows a shift in the climate for women in film, although we still have some climbing to do.

Sure, I'm an optimistic, joyous person, but I'm also afraid and insecure.

I'm just having fun. And giving a sort of second shot at childhood and life - and I need to be present to do it.

I was never the kind of girl who said, "One day, I am going to be a beautiful bride, and I am going to have a family." I wanted to work and support myself and make my parents proud. All I did was work. I did three or four films a year, and felt like I was on a treadmill. Finally I said, "Nothing is exciting to me anymore." So I took six months off, which turned into a year, and said, "God, I don't miss it." That's when all kinds of interesting things crossed my path.

There's something sexy about a gut. Not a 400-pound beer gut, but a little paunch. I love that.

I used to be an optimist, but now I know that nothing is going to turn out as I expect.

I have a thing for red-haired Irish boys, as we know.