“For dinner parties, I love making an easy cioppino using shrimp, mussels, clams, and a hearty fish that won’t fall apart easily.”

When I’m traveling, I won’t miss an opportunity to try great pasta.

My God, I think about way back in the day when we were running around in Mary Janes and Doc Martens, that whole 90210-inspired look. I’m glad that’s long gone.

The holidays are a time to – not quite play it safe – but play it classic. You don’t want to be the girl in a head-to-toe sequin look, where you look like you should be an ornament on the tree.

I’ve always shopped on the sale rack, and I’ve always been the girl flipping through the hangers trying to find the best deal.

I would love to do anything from a really gritty, interesting, indie type film, to that commercial, bigger stuff.

Be kind to yourself.

I can’t stand it when men are snarky.

Throwing on a black dress with black tights, cute booties, a great coat and throw a scarf over it. I think simple accessories and, if you want to make a pop, a great red lip.

My dad is Caucasian, and my mom is African American. I’m half black and half white. Being biracial paints a blurred line that is equal parts staggering and illuminating.

People don’t need to feel scared about a leather pant. Think of it as a jean alternative: it’s the same thing. It’s almost like they’re your yoga pants, but they look chic.

Curl the lashes, concealer under the eyes, blush, ChapStick, and highlight in the inner corner of the eye.

I did calligraphy for the invitations for, like, Robin Thicke and Paula Patton’s wedding.

I had always been the theater nerd at Northwestern University. I knew I wanted to do acting, but I hated the idea of being this cliche – a girl from L.A. who decides to be an actress.

Reflecting on where I came from helps me to appreciate and balance what I have now.

For work I get so dolled up that it’s nice to wear boyfriend jeans and a sweater.

I don’t tend to go totally bare, but on non-filming days, I will only wear tinted moisturiser, mascara, blusher, and a ChapStick for my lips.

It is much easier to try one’s hand at many things than to concentrate one’s powers on one thing.

Of all the languages I have ever known, the language of the heart is the easiest and toughest.

The prosperous can not easily form a right idea of misery.

It is always easy enough to take up arms, but very difficult to lay them down; the commencement and the termination of war are not necessarily in the same hands; even a coward may begin, but the end comes only when the victors are willing.

Tis easy to write epigrams nicely, but to write a book is hard.

Only fools imagine they are already awake. How clearly they understand everything! How easily they distinguish this deception from that reality!

Where evil habits are once settled, they are more easily broken than mended.

It is always easy to begin a war, but very difficult to stop one.