Ann Dowd

When I think of those in the 'far right' or those who are pro-life to the extreme and at all costs protect the unborn, the thing that enrages me is you want to ask every one of them, 'How many foster children are in your home now?' ”

It's a question of dropping the armor and getting up and doing the work you want to do. And film at first is frightening because you are like, 'What's that camera doing?' But then it becomes family and therefore a really wonderful experience. ”

It's a funny thing about being raised Catholic and then going to Catholic schools with nuns - the cliche about the mean nun was not what I had at all. They were very, very smart, devoted individuals. ”

I remember, as a young Catholic girl in high school, seeing 'The Exorcist,' and it scared the wits out of me. ”

When I won the Emmy, the profound sense of gratitude when my name was said I cannot express enough. It was one of the most beautiful moments, hands down, of my life. ”

I have to say my background was mostly theatre, which I love, and it took a long time to feel comfortable there. That's probably true of anyone's career. ”

I have a family and children I adore and a husband who's wonderful. ”

When I was pregnant with my first child, I was 35 years old, and I was working in a pet shop. ”

The first 10 years of my education were spent at a Catholic school in Springfield, Mass. ”

Sit with silence a lot - real silence, where nothing is happening - because you learn so much in those moments of quiet. ”