It was very natural for me to want to disappear into dark theater, I am really very shy. That is something that people never seem to fully grasp because, when you are an actor, you are meant to be an exhibitionist.

Yippee! I can't believe I made it. It feels like a long haul to get here. I'm so fine with it. People want you to have some sort of breakdown, but I'm relieved to be 40 years old, and I've lived a life.

I wouldn't want to be married to me, but luckily Tom Cruise does.

Every day there is a compromise. Living with somebody requires a lot of understanding. But I love being married. I really love it.

It was very natural for me to want to disappear into dark theater, I am really very shy. That is something that people never seem to fully grasp because, when you are an actor, you are meant to be an exhibitionist.

I never read reviews at all. I'm proud of the work I did.

I have a little bit of a belly, a tiny bit of pooch. It's the one thing I don't want to lose. I just like having some softness. If I lose that, then Tom might leave me.

I would describe myself as emotional and highly strung. If something upsets me, it really upsets me. If something makes me angry, I get really angry. But it's all very upfront. I can't hide it. I'm also loyal and I hope I'm fun.

I'm not sure what the future holds but I do know that I'm going to be positive and not wake up feeling desperate. As my dad said "Nic, it is what it is, it's not what it should have been, not what it could have been, it is what it is".

What's the point of doing something good if nobody's watching.

That goes against what I believe morally. That's adultery, and if I'm accused of that, no, that's not right. I have two kids who see that and remember that and judge me. It didn't happen, and it's not to be reported that way.

I'd like to be wise. You have to go through a lot to get there, but I'm willing to go through a lot.

You've just got to have a sense of respect for the person you have children with. Anger doesn't help anybody. Ultimately you have to say forgiveness is important, and honoring what you had together is important. But it's easy to say and harder to do.

I love working with people who are inspired and obsessive.

I think actors are getting so much more power these days, but I'm not. I stay very much away from the decisions, the way in which things are orchestrated, what's been changed. I just try to stay completely in the role as the actor and as the character.

There's no drugs, no Tom in a dress, no psychiatrists.

I never wore glasses except when I had to read a teleprompter at an awards show or drive, so I didn't notice much. I could exist in my head. It was kind of my escape from the world and my protection.

The loss of a child is the most terrifying place for me to go.

I always wanted to get married with just candles! I think candlelight is the most beautiful light there is and there's something very spiritual about it.

They've said I'm gay, they've said everyone is gay. I personally don't believe in doing huge lawsuits about that stuff. Tom does. That's what he wants to do, that's what he's going to do. You do not tell Tom what to do. He is a force to be reckoned with.

I believe that as much as you take, you have to give back. It's important not to focus on yourself too much.

I think at some stage, I would love to have another child. I would love to settle into a relationship that was really important to me. I actually am not good at the balance at that.

To be honest, I am completely natural. I have nothing in my face or anything. I wear sunscreen, and I don't smoke. I take care of myself and I'm very proud to say that.

It's so bizarre, I'm not scared of snakes or spiders. But I'm scared of butterflies. There is something eerie about them. Something weird!

I just want to be nominated; beggars can't be choosers.

My parents thought it was nice to develop my imagination, but they never seriously thought that anything would ever come of it. They said that I couldn't be an actress because I would be taller than all my leading men, so I thought I would be a writer instead.

Honestly, people have said everything under the sun. I just want to do my work, raise my kids, and hopefully find somebody who I can share my life with again.

I refuse to let what happened to me make me bitter.

Since I have fair skin, I have to stay out of the sun. I can't stand the sun. I dyed my hair red for a while during the 1990s but I'm actually a natural blonde.

It's a very brave thing to fall in love. You have to be willing to trust somebody else with your whole being, and that's very difficult, really difficult and very brave.

When you relinquish the desire to control your future, you can have more happiness.

My choices in films are spontaneous.

I have a boy's body. I would prefer to have more curves because I think that's more beautiful. I would much rather have J. Lo's body than mine.

I love acting, but it's much more fun taking the kids to the zoo.

Having gone through all of this, I feel in some ways calmer now. It's strange, but sad. I think I'll always be sad.

I don't believe in having body doubles for a film.

I'm a person that carries everything that happened to me in my past, with me into the future. I refuse to let it make me bitter. I still completely believe in love and I remain open to anything that will happen to me.

I think that the most difficult thing is allowing yourself to be loved, so receiving the love and feeling like you deserve it is a pretty big struggle. I suppose that's what I've learnt recently, to allow myself to be loved.

I'm trying to find a man to share my life with, but it's not been easy. I'm a 35-year-old woman with two small children.

I'm a woman, a mother, a daughter, a sister. I'm a real person operating in the world. For me to discuss the most private thing feels wrong. It feels like I'm betraying myself and my children.

I have a different approach. I don't file lawsuits because I really don't care.

I think each role takes a little from you and circles around you for the rest of your life. I don't think you ever abandon any of them.

Stay out of the sun, because it is the worst thing in terms of aging. I'm very medical. I come from a medical family.

I was walking around legally blind. Now I have 20-20 vision. I can't believe I spent so many years blurry, but I think that coincides with how I was feeling. Now I notice if people are watching me, but I also smile right back if someone waves, which helps.

You're not anyone in America unless you're on TV.

Even from a very early age, I knew I didn't want to miss out on anything life had to offer just because it might be considered dangerous.

If you're going to be with someone, you're with them, you're committed to them. I'm not sort of flitting around.

My life collapsed. People ran from me because suddenly it was 'Oh my God! It's over for her now!'

Salary stories are intrusive. Do you ask your neighbour what they earn for their job?