“My mom taught me this really great beauty tip. She used to put oil or mayonnaise on the bottom half of her hair before she would shower.”

Christmas for me is all about spending time with my family. I cherish any chance we have to spend all day together making gingerbread houses, baking cookies, or sitting around and watching movies.

After my first year on ‘Gossip Girl,’ everybody said, ‘You’ve got to do a big commercial movie, ride this wave.’

I think I became my own stylist by not knowing any better.

They point out flaws in other people to make them feel good about themselves. I think at any age or any social class, that’s present.

My whole family’s been in the business. My whole family is crazy.

Honestly, I am a shy person.

People say, ‘Well, whose career do you follow? Where do you see your career going? What movie do you want to do next?’ And I can’t tell you what type of movie I would go and do next.

I had a premonition when I was nine that I’d marry Leonardo DiCaprio.

I want babies. Lots of babies. Of course!

There’s something tangible about the essence of the city. You can taste and smell it.

I always loved fashion.

My mom would have different fragrances for different times of the year. They were a part of her identity.

The smell of pine needles, spruce and the smell of a Christmas tree – those to me, are the scents of the holidays.

My mom and dad always taught acting, so instead of getting me babysitters, they would just bring me to class.

If I define myself by things that are always changing, like the public’s opinion, or what I’m wearing, or what job I’m doing, there’s no stability in that.

I’ve always been a night owl.

How many more tragedies does it take before we do something?

We need innovation in education and dedication to the task before us.

My mother didn’t try to stab my father until I was six, but she must have shown signs of oddness before that.

I always woke up before the plane landed.

Dawn was written well before 9/11. People speak a lot today about the banality of evil, but not all evil is banal.

How many more children have to die before this country realizes that No Gun Zones create perfect locations for violence?

In the course of 25 years, we have developed a constructive relationship with Mexico that was nonexistent before.

Enjoying consciousness every now and then for a second or so before splitting up to become bits and pieces of trees and stars and french fries.