“My mother is extremely interested in everything esoteric.” — Laura Dern

It's my deepest interest as an actor: I love discovering how human beings work, how their flaws reveal themselves - how to learn and grow from that - and how characters teach me things as a woman and as a parent.

I don't turn my nose up at anything. If it's a great part, it's a great part. I'd love to do a box-office hit.

If I had different parents who were in it for the money, I might have a different perspective. But they really are artists; they intelligently approach each character and prepare in every sense of the word. I grew up in a world that had great discipline.

There are a lot more female writers wanting to direct their own material and hopefully will be given the opportunity.