I've always seen myself for who I am, which is a lot of things. So, I guess that when I walk into a room, I bring all those things to a role, and I've always just simply seen myself as an actor.

And this is what was fascinating to me about 'The Help'; they were ordinary people who did extraordinary things.

I've been in this business 25 years. I've been eking out a living doing Broadway, off-Broadway... I've seen the unemployment line a lot.

You cannot live to please everyone else. You have to edify, educate and fulfill your own dreams and destiny.

Lloyd Richards is another director who was like that, who was a teacher.

Acting, it's the disappearance of self, disappearance of your own needs and your own wants and the kind of embracing of the character that makes it work.

Eating bread in Hollywood is a no-no!