The biggest research of all when I do a character is self-examination. You look at yourself and you ask, ‘How am I similar to this person and how am I different?’
It’s thematic in my career, if you look at most of my choices. It is some level of exploration of maternal angst and maternal heroism.
I do love directing. I’m only comfortable working in the independent film arena for a very small budget where I have creative control and I can put my stamp on it.
When you’re breastfeeding a child, you don’t have the same retention as you do when you’re not.
You know what’s more difficult to do organically? Laughing. It’s actually one of the hardest things to do on camera.
Chekhov, when it’s done well and you’re ready for it, can actually be quite funny.
I was very studious and square in college.
I’ve done TV, but never where you’re given this much time to live with a character, to study the tone and hone it and repair stuff, to go back and watch old episodes and go, “Oh no, that’s a misstep. That’s a victory. I should do more of that, less of that.”
I cannot even imagine college. I’m white-knuckling it just letting my son go to kindergarten for eight hours a day.
I bet you could look at every single thing I’ve ever done and reduce it to that parenting schematic.
I always thought Uncle Vanya could be a stoned masterpiece.
There’s just a deeper level of sophistication in the writing of female characters on TV.
My husband is my best friend; he knows my sensibilities.
The fears and anxieties and obsessions wrapped up in being a parent.
The writers could always do an about-face and change everything.
I’m pretty squeaky clean. No big tragedies in my childhood or adolescence or adulthood. I’ve had a very easygoing, simple life.
My personality is just innately even-keeled. I’m not such a huge daredevil. Which is not to say I’m not a passionate woman. I don’t know, maybe it’s my physiological makeup, but I don’t like the feeling of anything in my system, other than a glass of wine now and then.
It’s a delicate thing for me, with how involved I am in social media and being a part of people’s lives in a way that they want me to.
Esquire’s all about mommy issues now. Breastfeeding, vaccinations, playdate etiquette.
Esquire needs to be more like a mommy blog.
Partying has never been my thing. I’ve been around some wild people. I’ve been in the same room and watched them experiment, and that’s been entertaining.