Frankly, to be honest, I hadn't worked for two years before 'Murphy Brown.' It's a nice illusion now to think of all of us as terribly successful and talented people at the top of our profession, but that's hindsight. I had to pray for a job like this.

When you're starting out as an actor, you keep raising the stakes. First, you just want to be a character who comes on stage and gets a laugh or two and exits. Just five minutes on a stage, not even Broadway. But every time you say your little prayer at night, you place more demands.

I've always been slightly self-conscious as an actor, and I guess that sometimes reads as pomposity. Starting when I was 30, I somehow gave off an impression at an audition that had them mentally put me in a three-piece suit or put an attache case in my hand. If there was a stiff-guy part, the director would brighten up when I came in.

It's funny because all through the '80s I didn't do TV and movies very much. I prided myself that I was making a living in the theater.

Every time me and A Boogie connect in the studio, it's just always good vibes. It's like me being with one of my brothers or me being with one of my cousins or my family members.

My father always taught me to appreciate what you're fortunate to have and give back to those who need it. No part of our society is more important than the children, especially the ones who need our help.

Everybody knows the mother-daughter relationship is one of the most complex there is.

I've got a huge family back in Ireland, and I've made loads of movies in Ireland.