Claire Danes

I have a huge, active imagination, and I think I'm really scared of being alone; because if I'm left to my own devices, I'll just turn into a madwoman.

I've always had a really active imagination. Lots of kids have imaginary friends. Mine just took on a rather demonic form.

I think people are made uncomfortable by uncensored expressions of emotion.

It's OK to want to look and feel your best. It's OK to work at being attractive, whatever that means to you. And it's also OK to not expect to be defined by that. It's OK to be powerful in every way: to be big, to take up space. To breathe and thrive.

I don't want to be an actress. I want to be doing good work that is well written and has good people in it.

I would rather not work than be a neurotic mess.

The big question is always, 'Eyes or lips?' I tend to go with the eyes because I've got a lot more material to work with now - and it saves me from reapplying lipstick! I'm a pretty low-maintenance person and it's too excessive to exaggerate both the eyes and lips.

I was a serious kid to an absurd degree. I was overwhelmed with responsibility. You know, trying to play grown up. I overdid it.

My parents never condescended to me. As a child, I always sat at the head of our dinner table. I was always given a lot of responsibility.

When I was 18 I went to college for two years and didn't work for a year which was essential for me, because my identity had been so influenced by my being an actor and I think I just needed to discover what it was to be myself, divorced from all that responsibility.

I do know how to fire a machine gun, so be warned! I'm trained!