When I used to do musical theatre, my dad refused to come backstage. He never wanted to see the props up close or the sets up close. He didn't want to see the magic.

In many ways we are all sons and daughters of ancient Greece.

When I used to do musical theatre, my dad refused to come backstage. He never wanted to see the props up close or the sets up close. He didn't want to see the magic.

You're not ethnic enough. You're not fat enough. You're not thin enough. You're not blond enough. You're not dark enough. You're not young enough. You're not old enough.

You only get one life so you might as well make it a happy one, and that's why I tend to just jump into things. I'm sort of a fearless idiot that way.

I do recommend it for all girls, and boys, out there: put on a pair of fishnet stockings and find your inner sexiness!

America was founded on immigrants. The immigrant experience is common to all of us.

And (cue music swell) motherhood turned out to be the most meaningful thing I've ever done with my life. Really.

Because I am a character actor, I thought I would be the fourth or eighth banana on a sitcom, and that would be OK.

Don't settle; don't compromise. Freeze your eggs, get your sociology doctorate, worry more about war and pestilence and the incredible inequality of geographical birth than finding your soulmate.

Ever since I became a parent, time moves far too quickly. My vision always feels like I'm wearing giant kaleidoscope-goggles.

Every time I sign a contract, I donate something to charity and buy a piece of jewelry. Whether the movie gets made or not, it's a celebration.

I believe that if I come home from a stressful day on the set, I just have to leave it there.

I believe that there are moments in everyone's lives where a door flings open, and if you're terrified of what's on the other side, you must walk through it.

I believe that you will not get what you want unless you ask for it.

I consider myself a fearless idiot.

I couldn't get an acting job to save my life when I moved to L.A.

I did go through a bit of a dark time during the years I was trying to be a mom. But I'm basically a very positive person.

I do get approached every day by people who say, 'Why don't you make more movies?' I don't really miss it when I get to go and watch my daughter in the Christmas pageant.

I don't card out my screenplays ever. I just have an idea I just sit down and write I don't edit.

I don't like it if I act anything other than the humble Winnipegger I was raised to be.

I don't temper how I feel. I'm Greek. I've got emotions.

I feel that the industry can be sliced into two categories - grateful actors and non-grateful actors.

I feel that the industry can be sliced into two categories - grateful actors and non-grateful actors. I'm always so appreciative that this has happened for me - and against all odds - as a middle child from Canada. I'm very grateful.

I grew up looking for myself onscreen and never could find myself. And I believe that I am supposed to be Toula to show people that it's O.K. to be different.

I had worked for ten years in theater; I had worked at Second City in Chicago. Then I got to Hollywood, and I was like, naively, 'Where's my pilot?'

I have always written from a personal place.

I have found that every family has a strange remedy for any situation - from 'Use Fantastic to get the scuff off your patent leather shoes!' to 'Soak an aspirin in a glass of water to get rid of a migraine.'

I have had the same person show up in a few cities with flowers. A lovely gentleman who gave me a picture of himself. I came home, gave it to Ian, and said, 'If I go missing, here's the guy.'

I have no idea how to use social media for anything other than forwarding a good fart joke.

I never card out a movie. You know how people will outline or card? I don't do that. I tend to start with an idea and go.

I think it's almost easier to do a kissing scene with someone you don't know.

I think it's probably a universal experience that all parents think they're not hovering, but perhaps we all are.

I think our skin clears up and we're nicer when you are in love.

I think there is a moment in every parent's life where we realize that we have lost ourselves a little bit. It's a moment of looking in the mirror and going, 'I need to put on some lipstick.'

I thought I was attractive when I shot 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding.' Studio executives and movie reviewers let me know I had a confidence in my looks that was not shared by them.

I was a very studious student and usually got A's. I did not like school, because I wasn't popular - I was a nerd.

I was in a fertility situation publicly, so I disappeared. I was very satisfied just being to able to creatively express myself with writing. The white hot publicity that came from 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' was appreciated but not sought, so I was happy to walk away from it and then write.

I was worried if you adopted a foster child, someone from the birth family could still come and take her back. I was afraid that any child in foster care might have suffered such trauma or neglect that she would be impossible to reach. I'm not proud of these fears. But I understand now when others ask me the same questions.

I write through improvisation. I never card out a movie. You know how people will outline or card? I don't do that. I tend to start with an idea and go.

I'd been raised by my parents who taught me not to think you're better than you are.

I'm a private person who doesn't relish making her personal life public.

I'm not proud of this, but I had a lot of misconceptions about American foster care. To me, foster care meant that a child would be placed with you, then taken away. I didn't want to go through all of that.

I've had designers say to my face, 'Oh, I want to dress you now that you're skinny.' And that's really rude.

It was a sad process for me to become a mom, and a long process. I felt so embarrassed that I couldn't have a biological child.

It wasn't easy to adopt an American child. Actually it's quite simple, but finding out how to do it was the hard part.

It's called show business for a reason. The theater owners want to make money, and understandably so.

It's impossible for success to go to your head with a Greek mom - no way.

It's not like suddenly, when you become a working actor all your friends are in the same situation. I have friends who are still handing out flyers for their one-woman show and trying to make ends meet.