“You have to be tenacious, you have to be focused, you have to have a real vision, and be extremely passionate about it.”

My theory is that if you look confident you can pull off anything – even if you have no clue what you’re doing.

It feels like I’m starting to come into my own in terms of where I want to go artistically, toward more complicated, interesting characters.

It’s not always so great to be objectified, but I don’t feel I have much of a choice right now. I’m young in my career. I know I have to strike when the iron is hot.

I get all these screenplays that start ‘Tawnya is in the shower. The water streams down her naked, perky breasts’. I don’t think this is happening to Natalie Portman.

Your husband or your wife is the only person you can really choose to be your family and to have unconditional love with them.

I don’t think it serves any minority or underrepresented group to be coddled. Because the world won’t coddle you. So I actually believe in tough love, hard truths, black and white.

I could have sexual chemistry with vinegar.

Everyone has an opinion of who you are and what your relationship is about, things that you’ve done or didn’t do in your relationship – and it’s just all crap, really. Things that are written about it are all crap.

I don’t hang out with the Hollywood cool people. I’m not out trying to make friends with people because they’re famous.

Movies are the shadiest business in the world.

You have to be the best of whatever you are, but successful, cool actresses come in all shapes and sizes.

There’s no such thing as a perfect guy. I think it would be strange if somebody was absolutely everything you always wanted, because then there’d be no challenge. Also, you’d feel inferior.

I really like older British guys – I don’t think any of them would ever have a problem with crying in front of a woman or saying “I love you” or “You hurt me” or emotional stuff like that.

No one gives Cameron Diaz a hard time for not speaking Spanish.

I’m not trying to do stuff for my kids necessarily all the time, but when you get the odd opportunity to do something for them that they could enjoy its cool.

Love is ever evolving and it takes compromise, work and patience.

The more you are focused on time – past and future – the more you miss the Now, the most precious thing there is.

Anything that’s not positive, I don’t have the energy to focus on it. Anything that’s not going in the right direction, I don’t have the time or the energy.

The focus on my appearance has really surprised me. I’ve always been a size 14 to 16, I don’t care about clothes, I’d rather spend my money on cigarettes and booze.

I transformed my focus and mind from pain and complains to creative conquests.

Quick wins don’t last, always focus on the long game.

I’m focusing on the music, but I still got a cold library of books that I’ve either read or I plan on getting to.

Focus on every opportunity of life that’s constantly aligning everything for you through your visions and inner state of being.  

Find what you can do well and focus until you master it.