The president of CBS handpicked me for the 'Star Search' revival, which Arsenio Hall hosted. He picked 12 comics, and I was the only female. I always look to that as inspiration.

Really, it hasn't changed for female comics; it's still hard for females to really enter the game.

That's the one thing I have to say to females. If you don't have a certain look, or if you look a certain way, they won't accept you.

If you think about how many headlining female comics are out there, you could say 15, maybe 20?

At the very beginning of my career, when I opened my business in Italy, I was also a ranked tennis player. I had won many tournaments. To be an athlete was my first choice. Second choice: designer. However! There was more money in being a designer at that time.

I went to the University of Toronto to study the history and theory of film, in the back of my mind thinking I'd go to NYU film school and see if I could make a career of it.

The Temper Trap's 'Sweet Disposition' is an invigorating song. It's my mental cue to let go of stress, disconnect from my career and connect to my body and my spirit.

The peak of a career can only last so long. You go up and you try to maintain it. But, it can only last so long and then you're going to go down.