When I Was Growing Up, Particularly During

I Was A Very Determined Kid. I Couldn't Imagine Any Other Life For Myself. This Happens To Kids Who Are Different In Any Way. How Am I Going To Make A Life? Who Am I Going To Be When I Grow Up? Will There Be A Place For Me In The World? Acting Gave Me A Sense Of Purpose, But It Also Gave Me A Sense That I Would Survive, That I Would Find My Place.

It Really Hit Home That My Parents Felt As Though They Didn't Have To Worry Anymore. They Realized If You Could Win An Oscar, That Was A Good Sign.

For A While, I Thought, Maybe I Should Direct, Until I Got To New York And Saw The Stupidity Of That Idea. If It's Hard To Get Into Acting, What Is It Like For A Woman To Become A Director?

Everybody Either Wanted To Take Care Of Me Or Push Me Around, You Know? I Was Teased A Lot, Sure I Was, Of Course. Fourth Grade, Fifth Grade, Sixth Grade, Everybody Was Taking Their Spurts Except Me. I Was Not Growing Up.

I Was Always Trying To Make Up For My Size, To Compensate. So To Get People To Take You Seriously, You Have To Come At Things With A Great Deal Of Strength. You Have To Emphasize That The Way You Are Is Unusual. That You Don't Come Along Every Day.