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

Since my kitchen is the most important part of my home, I want to be creative and innovative, not only in its aesthetic, but also in the tools that I’m using to cook.

There is something about New Orleans that embodies passion; I’ve never seen that before.

Wanting to be an actor and wanting to be famous are different.

I have smuggled so many ingredients across so many borders, like shallot confit from Thailand, or a new sauce from New Orleans not approved by the FDA.

You can’t really go wrong as long as you’re true to yourself.

I grew up with the mindset that when you get home from work, you go to dinner and watch a movie. I don’t want to be going to a club and taking off my panties.

I always want to wear clothes that my children will one day look back on and say, ‘Oh, you looked amazing – why didn’t you keep that?’ Not, ‘Oh my God – I can’t believe you wore that.’

I have a tight-knit Southern family.

Soy lattes get me through my day!

It’s definitely attractive when a man can dress well.

I think that when you smell good, you feel good. You know how when you’re in a room and someone else smells good, you’re like, ‘Where is that?’

If I could spit out a litter of kids, I would.

Honestly, I’m so sick of myself.

I should hope I dress differently at 25 than I did when I graduated high school. I hope I never stop changing.

I have to learn to knit.

My first child is going to be the oldest sibling to the next kid, and that may change with each and every year. I’m looking forward to how one baby influences the other, and to my family as a whole, to every single chapter.

I had a babysitter when I was 12 or younger. I had a big crush on her.

I take a lot of pride in the work I do, because people pay to see me. They’ve got to get babysitters, park their car, get popcorn and candy. I’ve got to be conscious of that.

We didn’t have money for a babysitter, so she always brought me with her to the dancing school. Back then, I was already watching and listening to Michael Jackson for a long time.