I don’t want my own life to be solely about preserving my parents’ lives.

I always danced with my father in the living room. He did lifts with me, and he would twirl me around, and we’d laugh and giggle."

I think historically it’s good for younger people to see where so much influence has come from. If you’re using my mother as a role model it gives women permission to be kooky and wonderful and individual and unique and loyal and independent all at the same time.

My parents really doted on me in so many ways. They had an intense love and participation in my well-being.

I was five when I did my first show with the Mountain Play Theatre company in Marin County. I started young, and since no one in my family was involved in the industry in any way shape or form, I think everyone thought I'd do a few plays and that would be it. But then I kept doing it.

I could look back and say I've had a good career.

I was bullied as a kid, and I got a job on television. And I had a camera. And so I wanted to go after those business bullies. And I just have been following that instinct.

Working with a Republican co-sponsor, Rep. Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania, I introduced a bill to strengthen our nation's career and technical education programs and more closely align them with the needs of local businesses and industries.