“I don’t read music. Not even essentially. Not even nonessentially.”

There’s a part of you that always remains a child, no matter how mature you get, how sophisticated or weary.

It takes me about 10 years to appreciate what it is I’ve done.

Part of our society kills what it loves, despises what it’s created. It really hates success.

It is every woman’s dream to be some man’s dream woman.

Moviemakers can be late to a subject, or afraid, but often they are brave and ahead of their time.

I need instant gratification.

Believe in the power of your voice! Be yourself. Everyone is unique.

I was a personality before I became a person.

We elected a President, not a Pope.

I love road trips! My husband and I love that. We bought a truck with a bench seat so we could put the dog in the middle.

I was raised on the streets, in hot, steamy Brooklyn, with stifled air.

Performing, for me, has always been a very inner process.

The moral immune system of this country has been weakened and attacked, and the AIDS virus is the perfect metaphor for it. The malignant neglect of the last twelve years has led to breakdown of our country’s immune system, environmentally, culturally, politically, spiritually and physically.

I hated singing. I wanted to be an actress. But I don’t think I’d have made it any other way.

Stay true to yourself. People respond to authenticity.

I’m interested in the truth, and unauthorized biographies are not. Yes, I would like to correct those errors someday.