“I only began to sing because I couldn’t get a job as an actress.”

How I wish we lived in a time when laws were not necessary to safeguard us from discrimination.

I must have got my detailed, obsessive streak from my father, who was an English teacher, because my mother wasn’t like me at all.

It always gave me the creeps when I saw performers who desperately wanted the audience to like them. That’s not what I’m about.

Eighteenth century American furniture and the design of the architects Greene and Greene are my special love.

I’m tired of malicious articles slandering me.

He (son Jason) doesn’t see me as a (gay) icon, he sees me as his mother who touches his hair too much. No, I love being an icon to anybody. Equal rights, you know?

I like to stay home a lot. I like to do other things, too, like decorate.

I just became a singer, because I could never get work as an actress.

You have got to discover you, what you do, and trust it.

I’d rather not talk about money. It’s kind of gross.

What does it mean when people applaud? Should I give ’em money? Say thank you? Lift my dress? The lack of applause – that I can respond to.

You have to live life in the moment and get the most out of it.

I wasn’t supported, I wasn’t given any self-esteem.

I find George Bush and Dick Cheney frightening, Donald Rumsfeld and John Ashcroft frightening.

If a man wants to get it right, he’s looked up to and respected. If a woman wants to get it right, she’s difficult or impossible. If he acts, produces and directs, he’s called multitalented. If she does the same thing, she’s called vain and egotistical.

Art finds a way to be constructive. It becomes heat in cold places; it becomes light in dark places.

If only I’d known my differentness would be an asset, then my earlier life would have been much easier.

It’s bad enough that I’m an actress that wants to be recognized as an actress. Instead, I am known for doing game shows.

There is no reason why marriage should necessarily compel an actress to forego her career.

Film has always been hard for me, I’m basically a stage actress. I never felt comfortable in front of the camera.

At least I’m not playing other people for a change. It’s a very odd place to be… I feel I’m an actress who sings a bit.

Right now I’m the most famous silent movie actress in the world and I want to keep that for me. So I hope there’s not going to be any other silent movies.

You know, acting is very fascinating. But being an actress is not, because you become so concentrated on yourself.

I’d started going to acting classes at 14, played ‘Medea’ at 15 and really wanted to be a classical actress.