I don’t know if I was a star. I was certainly working a lot and that was strange because there were good things about it and things that were difficult.

It was, when I read it, I thought, such a beautiful script. I loved the story. I thought it was well handled. I thought it was even more moving because it was a true story and that made it even more poignant.

That’s a great feeling to know that I’m going into a project that I have no idea what will become of that movie, but I really trust Ang Lee. And I really trusted Ron. It’s just really nice to work with people that you feel that way about.

I try to do a lot of research beforehand so I know where I want to go with a scene. I try not to get too stressed about it, because I find that’s the worst thing.

I had a good time working with Russell Crowe, Ron Howard and Ed Harris. It was a great cast and Russell worked really hard, doing tons of research and questioning everything.

People who are incapable of having any kind of intimate relationship have to turn to feeling this incredible hunger and void, have to turn to some quantifiable external product to make them feel whole.

It’s funny looking at yourself. You know how it is when you look back at old pictures? It’s just funny looking back at yourself walking and talking at age 14.

I don’t always like my own behavior. I haven’t known anyone who is perfect all the time.

We live in downtown Manhattan and we have pretty big windows that looked right at the World Trade Center. I was home along with Kai and we watched it all happen. I was holding him in my arms and we were looking out the window when the second plane hit.

I don’t know if I was a star. I was certainly working a lot and that was strange because there were good things about it and things that were difficult.

I try to stay focused on my life and do try not to be brought into the Hollywood fantasy.

I felt for a long time that this is what I want to do so I’m happy at this point to just take my time and work on projects that I feel strongly about, and the rest of the time just live my life.

I’m so happy in the projects that I’m able to make, to be involved in projects like this. This isn’t always where it was at for me, I started working when I was a kid. I’m just a different person now, I’m 30. I started working when I was 11 and it’s a different ballgame.

Growing up, being watched from the outside… it’s kind of very taxing and maybe I should just do some kind of manual labor-it might be more relaxing. But I can’t, it’s not in my nature.

I didn’t expect to win the Oscar. You grow up watching the Oscars on TV and you think it happens to fancy people. It was really surreal.

Dark Water was one of my favourite films to shoot because of Walter. I had seen the previous films he had directed, Central Station and Motorcycle Diaries, and I thought they were great. I really trusted him.

When it’s good it’s great, it’s really great.

Everything changes as a mother. Yes, work has changed. The projects that I choose are even more important to me now. The world he’s growing up in and the kind of stimulus that is out there; they are so precious and I’d do anything to protect him.

I’ve chosen not to live in Hollywood, and instead I live in Brooklyn, New York. It’s how I like to live. I’d rather hang out with my kids and family when I’m not working. Going to premieres is not my idea of a fun night out.

I can’t comment on any outside perception. I’m happy to come out and talk about movies that I’ve worked on in a setting like this. Otherwise, I have my own life that I live which is very different and private.

You can’t predict what someone else is going to do and when someone else is going to leave.

If you get too attached to how you want it to come out the other side, you freeze. I try to trust that it will work out in the end.

I do finish reading a script and say, Why are they making it and what are they talking about? I like to try and be responsible in my choices in that way.