I went for endless auditions for tiny parts in obscure plays, and never got one job until I was in 'Four Weddings'.

I do try and curb my mouth, but I find it really hard. I wonder how many jobs I've talked myself out of!

Some people in my family achieved a lot, some people inherited a lot. But I turned my back on the whole thing.

My parents had four children quickly, divorced quickly - when I was two - and my mother remarried quickly. We were suddenly in a different environment with a different father.

I love my characters like family and cannot wait to share more of their story with readers.

I'll go wherever the work takes me. If something comes along that feels right, the family will come with me.

My parents told me from the time I can remember that, 'Yeah, you're adopted. But this is your family.' I can remember my mom, she tells me this story: when I was little, I was looking at her, and I was like, 'Why isn't my skin the same color as yours?' She was like, 'Oh, you're adopted, but I wish I had pretty brown skin like you.'

There is no substitute for kindness in the home. This lesson I learned from my father. He always listened to my mother's advice. As a result, he was a better, wiser, and kinder man.