When I was growing up in the house, we'd watch the Oscars.

Since I got into the movies, 'Running Scared,' that did $40 million. 'Princess Bride,' I got good reviews for the character Miracle Max. 'Memories of Me' didn't do well. 'Throw Mama from the Train' did $70 million. 'Harry and Sally' did 95 or 96. 'City Slickers' did $120 million.

My dad, Jack, had a great sense of humour and had a strong impact on me and my humour.

The decision-making process was very difficult: is this how I want my career to start, with playing Jodie Dallas on this show?

Burnout is grist to the mill. I write every day, for most of the day, so it's just about turning into metaphor whatever's going on in my life, in the world, and in my head. Every nightmare, every moment of grief or joy or failure, is a moment I can convert into cash via words.

Just like Barack Obama, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and now I am a reluctant groom.

The state's interest in marriage is stability. Generally speaking, polygamy does not work for stability. Inherent in the whole polygamous movement is a deep and abiding misogyny and denigration of women. So polygamy is objectionable on lots of grounds.

Even as a young child, I was a lover of books and of the spaces in which, as indeed in a sacred temple, books might safely reside.