Quotes

I don't take it seriously. Because I'm the one living my life. I mean, I've got this tiny part in this big Brad Pitt movie, and everyone here thinks I'm playing Sally to Brad Pitt's Harry. I'm not, and I'm constantly having to say that." - On being labeled the next 'big thing'.

That was easy, I just stood by Natalie Portman looking very serious. - On her role in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002).

I think its important to keep an element of fear about yourself because it makes you appreciate the jobs.

I did audition for Home and Away (1988), but they never called me back. I feel I escaped in a way.

''I used to drive, pretty pathetically, I'd just drive by their house all the time and they didn't know who I was. I'd just drive by the house all the time. I once knocked on the window and I thought, "What am I doing? What am I going to say if they come to the door and don't know who I am?" On her most dreadful crush.

I guess you can get to a level where you choose. I guess when you reach that point maybe you start making decisions about whether you want to be a leading man or woman. I'm not at that point at all. Where I am now, you're very much at everybody else's mercy. You have no control over your career in a lot of ways. It's just important to know what your own goals are, because that's empowering."

I'm starting to know how the world works a bit, and I'm learning more and more that the only thing that matters is what happens between 'action' and 'cut'. I'm allowing myself to be a bit more selfish, for want of a better word, just that it's OK to focus and that I don't have to be nice to everybody."

I'm probably in that next group of actors they call if Scarlett (Johansson) or Keira (Knightley) turns down a part. But I feel really lucky. To be a working actor is pretty incredible, because 99 per cent of actors are out of work. I know a lot of talented people who are better actors than me but haven't had a break. It's all down to timing and luck."

I've had some pretty good experiences on everything, even if the film doesn't always work.

Here in L.A. the standard of beauty is kind of ridiculous. I want to be doing this when I'm in my fifties and sixties and this isn't what I'm going to look like.

I think a movie can inspire change, absolutely. Art, a book, a painting, a song, can definitely inspire change, whether it's a small change or a big change but you know there's novels I've read or a scene in a film that I've seen where I definitely inspired something and made a change or addressed an issue in my life or done something cliché like make a phone call. Absolutely, that's the power of art you would call it because it inspires movement within yourself. You know it's only really powerful when it reflects on you and you can relate to it or are moved by it in some way.

I see myself more as a character actress than a celebrity.

I'd say I'm a bit of a fatalist but not as much as I was. I used to be like "whatever happens happens" and have that innate fatalistic outlook. But I think it's more about what you are thinking in your own mind that is the most powerful aspect of controlling your own life.

[Asked about What what she wants for her career] - I just want to continue being able to get roles that scare me and make me better and I think I can only grow as an artist if I do things that are scaring me and making me uncomfortable because that's the only place you'll learn anything.

I think all this insecurity is partly because as an actor you are told when you can practice your craft. The majority of actors - unless you start your own theatre company - are at the beck and call of other people. They're told when they can do their art, whereas painters can paint, writers can write, musicians can play. But actors are always the subject of other people's scrutiny and opinion. I think it breeds more insecurity the more you work because you get rejected on a daily basis, purely for who you are, and not just on a physical basis but also for your personality or origin. My heart breaks every time I don't get a part.

[on acting] I tend to spiral out of control if I'm not working. I get panicked and don't know what to do with myself.

They think I'm depressed because I look serious in photos. It's usually because I'm just nervous. But I've stopped dressing for other people. If I think I look good, that's the most important thing.

[on New York City] I'm in love with the city. You can impress an Australian with a city, but you can't impress them with a beach.

I've already started saying that I'm 30 when I'm still 29. That way, I'm already there.

[on working with Glenn Close] We're great friends, and we have a lot of fun together. She's terrific and so smart with the dialogue, my favorite scenes are always the ones between us. She's not a mentor - she's a friend, a colleague and an ally. She doesn't treat me like Patty treats Ellen!

Australia is my emotional home, but New York is my second home. I feel like myself in the city, and that's all you want from a place. It's an achievement to have found that. But we Australians are wandering people, aren't we?

I was very, very shy when I was little. Acting lets you access all those different parts of yourself to make the character authentic.

Films are like a house of cards. You think about doing something and so you sow those seeds. But it can take a long time to grow. You have to look at the bigger picture, because it's an ever-changing landscape.

Do everything, try everything. All work is noble, and each job is a valid experience.

[on switching from dramatic to comedic roles] It was a very conscious decision. I'm Australian - we don't take ourselves too seriously - but I really didn't know if I would have any luck. Just because you're funny in real life doesn't mean you are necessarily a funny actor; and if you're funny on screen it does not mean you're bound to be funny in real life.

[on people being surprised of the success of Bridesmaids] I was probably very naive. I hadn't done that much comedy, and I honestly didn't realize we were somehow breaking new ground. It was a little disappointing. I'm sure the guys from The Hangover didn't get asked, 'Hey guys, how about this group of men who are all really funny - isn't that amazing?' It gets boring. You wish it wasn't even part of the conversation.

There's always going to be backlash and vitriol and haters. But that's just the Internet. You don't really read much positive stuff. It's really just for people to vent. It's just noise.

Bobby (Cannavale) is a great cook. He's Cuban and he does a couple of really good Cuban dishes like arroz con pollo and Cuban cocktails. He's better than I am. Whereas I'm the good cleaner after!

[on director Paul Feig] He loves women to be funny and cool, to be smarter than the guys, and to kick ass. He's so interested in breaking all of those gender conventions, and it's really refreshing.

[on her movie Annie being panned by critics] I still stand by Annie, you know. It's a film with a great role model for young kids from all walks of life, who are able to see Annie and see someone who looks like themselves. Like everything, it's not for everyone.