Kirsten Dunst

If you're successful at a young age, no matter the profession, there has to come a time when you reevaluate everything, what it means to you. 'Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?'

I can't wait to have kids one day. I want to have kids and a farm with lots of animals on a lake.

If I saw 'Virgin Suicides' or 'Eternal Sunshine,' I'm so proud to be in those movies. They are such great movies. I felt so free on those sets.

I feel like everyone directs their own career according to their taste, what they migrate to emotionally and what kind of artists they want to work with. And I'm lucky enough to be in a position where I can wait six months for a project that really interests me.

People always tell me, 'Don't work so much', but I can't help it. I feel like all the things I've done are important to get to this adult stage and now I'm getting all these adult offers, so it's working.

I don't find I'm manic at all. I'm very chill.

A lot of people my age, they grew up with me onscreen. I think that's helped keep a certain amount of longevity. When you grow up with a person, you feel like you know them.

You can never control who you fall in love with, even when you're in the most sad, confused time of your life. You don't fall in love with people because they're fun. It just happens.

I try not to do scenes a certain way, because then I become conscious of it, and it dosen't come off as realistic. I try to make it so that I'm not really aware of what I'm doing.

It's always nice when people appreciate your work because it means you've affected them, which is great. And so that feels good.

I'm a good assistant. That's why I don't have an assistant, because I'm so on it that no one can be as on it as me. I know that.

What actor do you really take seriously who becomes a singer? It's kind of ridiculous. I can't think of anybody.

When I was little, I put on plays for my family at Sunday dinner, and I would direct them and have all my cousins, my brother, and my best friends in it. I was a very imaginative and theatrical child and wasn't afraid of being in front of a camera. It was like make-believe to me.

I wanted to get an angel wings tatooed on my back, as a guardian thing.

After 'Melancholia' and 'On the Road,' I wanted to do a comedy. And I did so many comedies when I was younger, but if you're not consistently in those movies, people don't always think of you for them.

I've always been someone who is pretty hard on herself. But I've lightened up a lot.

It's important to me that I don't get trapped in the whole teen scene, because I feel that you can get lost in those kind of movies, and they aren't really about the actors; they're about the selling of the concept, and how much money it makes.

I've always had a process that I do before I even get to set or go to the location. I work privately, and it almost feels like therapy between me and who I'm playing. So I have this inner life that's there and it gives me a confidence, too, that when I'm playing the role I know every question.

I feel very lucky that I don't have to rely on a man to give me financial security. That's a big deal.

I don't try to be sexy, but if you are sexy it comes out. If you're not, you're not.

Everybody smokes! Models, actresses, everyone! Don't they realize that it's gross? I understand it's an addiction, but it still pains me to see my friends do it.

I don't live in the spotlight, and I don't live my life in front of the paparazzi. I live very comfortably and quietly as possible.

I don't gossip about myself.

I'd like to be taller. I'd like my baby fat to leave.

I have gotten so many tickets. I hope I don't get my license revoked.

Confidence is very sexy. You could be not cute at all and have such confidence.

You know how people say awards don't mean anything? Hello! I think the energy around them makes everyone cuckoo.

I can't imagine having a real personal thing, like divorce and marriage, all those things, being in the public eye. I try to not talk about anything personal, and then nobody has the fire to throw back at you, like 'You said this back then!'

I'm always looking for that movie that feels like it's hitting me where I need it.

My mother told me that when I was born a wave of feeling came over her. She just knew that I was destined to be an actress.

You really can't explain how you do the things you do. I can't, anyway. I love certain actors, but sometimes they say the stupidest things about technique. I don't want to say something stupid.

I've never had a teenage rebellion; I'm not that type of person. I always work out my problems in a conscientious way.

I don't really relate to myself as The Girl in the Magazine. Which is dangerous for me, too, sometimes, because I don't think all the time, 'Well, look to see if people are following me home.' Sometimes I'm a little bit more free than maybe I should be.

I never read comics as a kid. I guess I was lazy and watched cartoons instead.

I really wanted the MTV Award the most, It was a golden popcorn container and it looks really neat.

When I have time off, my friends and I will go to Universal Studios, the movies, out to eat, and shopping. I'm happiest when I'm just hanging out with my friends... it really doesn't matter what we do.

A lot of people my age who are working right now have never acted; they get a show and suddenly they're making millions. It's always those people who get it fast who have the most trouble staying grounded and being themselves.

I want to play an action hero. I'm ready for roles that totally aren't me.

I think every woman goes through a relationship where she is with a guy that is really not right for her. You get lost in it.

I'm a person who likes to hang out. I would never go on a blind date. That sounds like the most uncomfortable thing on the planet earth. It's like, 'Hi. Nice to meet you. So, what kind of music do you like?' Date ended.

I was a very extrovert kid. It felt normal to me to act. I always went to regular schools. I've never been catty or a prima donna, so I never had problems. I always had my seat at the cafeteria when I came back from acting.

I just want to be a good friend to people, that's all.

A lot of moms give their kids line reads. My mom wasn't put in that position because I always had an acting teacher helping with the feelings rather than how to say something.

It's hard to get lost in a scene, to get into a character when everyone's standing around you on the set.

If I'd trusted myself and listened to myself all the times that I ignored myself, I would have been fine. But everyone has to learn their lesson, and now I've got it.

I'm the kind of person who buys a new thing, wears it so much and then is totally sick of it.

I like people more undone than made up. Patricia Arquette is the ultimate. She's not anorexic or perfectly tan, she's not trying to be anything but what she is, and that's the most sexy thing.

I've been an REM fan since I was a little girl. I would jump around to 'Stand' in the mirror.

Boys frustrate me. I hate all their indirect messages, I hate game playing. Do you like me or don't you? Just tell me so I can get over you.

I've seen ‘karma' slap people in the face. You have to be good to people. It really does come around

I'm not someone who feels the pressure of someone else's expectations. That's a very young way to feel.

I feel like I could never walk around a film half-naked. I definitely wouldn't want to see that.

In high school I had a boyfriend who was super into rap, so I was into Too $hort and Wu-Tang for a little while. And my best friend's older brother would sometimes drive us home in this pimped-out truck, and he'd play all his dirty rap music. We thought we were really cool.

I was a big Guns N' Roses fan when I was seven. My friend who lived across the street had long dark curly hair and I had long blonde hair, so I'd dress up as Axl and she'd be Slash, and we'd rock out in front of the mirror singing 'Patience.'

But the real secret to total gorgeousness is to believe in yourself, have self confindence, and try to be secure in your decisions and thoughts.

Everybody has a mean streak in them, don't they?

When I'm an old lady, I'm going to have my pick of the young men. They'll be like, 'She's Miss Mary Jane!' The young boys will think I'm a hot old lady.

What are you going to do if it's the end of the world? You better go out having fun instead of stressing about it.

You don't really know who you're going to fall in love with at what time in their life. They can be the worst off they've ever been in their life, but you can't help who you fall in love with. That's part of the excitement of life - new people, new experiences.

When you feel good is when you're not afraid to feel the worst.

When I'm working, I always listen to music to zone everyone else out.

I think it's best to date someone who doesn't do what you do.

When you get older, you feel better about yourself. You're not worried what other people think about you, in general. You just get more comfortable in your skin.

I just don't want to be the damsel in distress. I'll scream on the balcony, but you've got to let me do a little action here.

Being an actress doesn't make you popular in school.

Pristine vulnerability is just so boring to me. The performances that I love are ones like Gena Rowland's in 'A Woman Under the Influence,' where women are allowed to be messy and imperfect. It's that kind of woman that has always inspired me to seek roles that are a little out of the box. I just haven't always had the opportunity to do them.

I would love to work with Quentin Tarantino - he's my number one. My ultimate. I would love to work with Paul Thomas Anderson, Alexander Payne - Pedro Almodovar wouldn't be too shabby. There are so many good directors, but those are some of my favorites.

Rare are the people who can capture a human being.

When you have a beanpole body, everything looks cute. Like Alexa Chung. I like her style, but she's really tall and skinny, so everything looks good on her.

I think most human beings go through some sort of depression in their life. And if they don't, I think that's weird.

I think the best thing about my job is that I have my life documented, which not many people get to have. They have a photo here and there and maybe some video footage from a birthday. My kids will be able to see me growing up.

The filmmaker is really important to me: it could be their first film; it's not just about their reputation, but I have to really believe in them.

I think you see in people's eyes what they've been through. Anything in their lives shows up in their eyes.

I'm never going to say anything about who I'm dating unless I'm married or engaged.

You know that feeling when you wake up in the morning and you're excited for the day? That's one of my main goals in life.

You know that feeling when you wake up in the morning and youre excited for the day Thats one of my main goals in life.

I've always used my own personal emotions and things that I've gone through in my life to build a character. The work that I do before a film feels almost like therapy, between me and whoever I'm playing.

When you're little, you're open to things. It's not like you get into this rehearsed zone when you're a child. At first you play different sides of yourself. And I think it will be really exciting one day to have a character to go into that's not anything like me whatsoever.

I don't think roles help you resolve your issues. I just think they're good markers.

I would always rather do a mediocre script with a great filmmaker than a great script with a mediocre filmmaker.

Doing 'All Good Things' really felt like I was acting for myself rather than anyone else. It gave me a freedom I'd never had before, or knew I had, to do whatever I want to, and to argue my opinions and not just feel like the cute girl on set or the girl in a boy's club. I figured out how I could be both. And it's been different ever since.

I really think the key to a film is the chemistry of people.

Everyone goes through a hard time in their life.

When I go away to do a movie, I bring the blanket I've had since I was a little girl. It helps me sleep. I also always bring my laptop so I can E-mail friends. And I bring my dog, Beauty, wherever I can.

It's weird doing red carpets; it's uncomfortable. But you can have a sense of humor about it.

I feel like everyone directs their own career according to their taste, what they migrate to emotionally and what kind of artists they want to work with.

I'm very mature for my age, but I'm also innocent in a lot of ways.

I attract a different kind of boy when my hair's red. I get more quality men - like a more thoughtful, nerdy dude.

Most people ask me questions based on a previous interview. That's not an interview. It's like they're just saying my quotes back to me.

Every movie I do, I always use things that have happened in my life. Funny moments, anything. If it just sticks out I'll write it down and use that, too, because it has to come out of you. But no one can work when they're depressed. I don't think I'd physically be able to do it if I were depressed.

I'd like to grow up and be beautiful. I know it doesn't matter, but it doesn't hurt.

You can never get enough of 'Jeopardy.'

Why would I cry over a boy? I would never waste my tears on a boy. Why waste your tears on someone who makes you cry?

I used to feel like I had to be the best at what I did, but I realized I don't have to be the best. It's so freeing. I've never been this happy.

I don't want to be 'box-office girl,' but I don't want to be 'that indie girl' either.

I know kids are supposed to go through these awkward stages, but I just never even thought about that. I was too busy worrying about getting my education while I was working.

I would have loved to have been in a Hitchcock movie.

I built my entire career off of teen comedies. I was in 'Bring It On'.

I liked the girly cartoons. I was very much a girly-girl.

When you spend your entire life as a child actress, being told where to go and where to stand, you're performing constantly for people. It definitely breeds the kind of person who's dependent on other people's approval.