Actress

I've learned a lot from trainers over the years, but mainly that you need discipline to stay in the gym and out of the many fine cupcake emporiums on every corner.

All TV shows are basically part of the same storyline.

My mother had lived in London since I was little, so she never got to see my school plays and stuff.

As I've gotten older, I've gotten more liberal, and my father is increasingly conservative. It's so shocking to me because I always thought we had the same politics. The day I realized we voted for different presidents, I practically fell out of my chair.

Perspective is the most important thing to have in life.

I didn't grow up identifying with beauty. I grew up thinking I could be smart and funny - those are the things I got feedback on.

I get a delivery of a diet food during the week, which doesn't mean that I don't eat the occasional Krispy Kreme doughnut.

I love TV. I think I'd do a half-hour single-camera comedy.

I take the no-doughnut pledge, and then I break it.

My time at Barnard was fun but stressful. I transferred there from the acting conservatory at NYU, and my Rolling Around On the Floor Pretending to Be a Lion classes didn't translate into many academic credits.

Because I have no consistent schedule as an actor, it was difficult to develop one as a writer. Ideally, I'd like to write first thing in the morning, every day. But sometimes I'm called to set before the sun comes up, or I've worked late the night before, or I'm on a plane.

You want the story to end when it's supposed to and not be squeezed for somebody's financial gain.

I dream of playing Lady Cora's sister on 'Downton Abbey.'

'Mom' isn't an adjective or a personality; they're not all the same.

It's great to have an acting job in the age of Reality TV.

If I had a normal job and had been moving up, I'd be management level now.

Some people think my father was a spy, because of working for that government agency in Vietnam, but he can't find his car keys, much less keep a national secret.

I've made out more this season on a family-friendly show than ever in my actual life.

I really think if you're trying to look good, do something athletic. I have a little mini tramp, and sometimes I'll just try to jump for 20 minutes. It gets your blood circulating, and that always looks really pretty.

I've dated people who I thought were going to be a big deal in my life, and I've also spent long periods by myself.