When I was growing up in New Jersey my mom would regularly take my sister and I into the city to see shows. I have many fond memories of standing in the half-price ticket line in Times Square and going to matinees.

I was embarrassed that I even wanted to become an actress because coming from L.A. with two older sisters in the business and a mom who had been a ballet dancer it was such a cliche.

All of us kids ended up 'doing Mom.' There are four of us who've tried show business. Five if you insist on counting my sister the nun who does liturgical dance.

AIDS can destroy a family if you let it but luckily for my sister and me Mom taught us to keep going. Don't give up be proud of who you are and never feel sorry for yourself.

Dinner 'conversation' at the Cohens' meant my sister mom and I relaying in brutal detail the day's events in a state of amplified hysteria while my father listened to his own smooth jazz station in his head.

My mom was a diabetic. Her sister was a diabetic so I was already a candidate.

My mom put me and my sisters in the water to feel comfortable to have water safety.

I'm ridiculous in my oversharing my mom and sister are very open but a little more judicious than me... and my father is a decidedly private person.

I think the real heroic teachers are the ones who work with kids like my mom and my sister do.

Mom spent the time that she was supposed to be a kid actully raising children her younger brother and younger sister. She was tough as nails and did not suffer fools at all. And the truth was she could not afford to. She spoke the truth bluntly directly and without much varnish. I am her son.

My sisters and my mom those people help me get through every single day.

My sisters and mom raised me to respect women and open doors for them.

It's the moms of this nation - single married widowed - who really hold this country together. We're the mothers we're the wives we're the grandmothers we're the big sisters we're the little sisters we're the daughters. You know it's true don't you? You're the ones who always have to do a little more.

I took the fear of marriage from my parents' relationship because I didn't want to end up in a relationship like that whereas my brothers and sisters learnt a lesson from it and made sure they didn't carry it on into their own marriages.

My older sister was at the cusp of new wave and I had older brothers from my father's first marriage who were rock 'n' roll guys so I was exposed to a lot of popular culture.

Feminism is dated? Yes for privileged women like my daughter and all of us here today but not for most of our sisters in the rest of the world who are still forced into premature marriage prostitution forced labor - they have children that they don't want or they cannot feed.

I always like to win. But I'm the big sister. I want to make sure she has everything even if I don't have anything. It's hard. I love her too much. That's what counts.

A father may turn his back on his child brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies husbands may desert their wives wives their husbands. But a mother's love endures through all.

Growing up my sisters and I would always talk stories. One of my frustrations was I didn't know anything about cameras. I didn't know how to make a film and I obviously didn't have a special effects budget. I was a kid. So I was learning to draw to get down the stuff that was in my head that I couldn't afford to actually do.

I have six sisters so I assumed I'd have a girl. Learning I was having a boy was really weird.

I'm thrilled to continue my partnership with U by Kotex for Generation Know while helping to empower girls. I've always been a motivational resource for my younger sisters and hope I can positively impact and inspire other young girls too.

My dear sister I hope when God Almighty in his righteous providence shall take me out of time into eternity that it will be by a flash of lightning.

When I was at home I felt loved and safe. My sisters were always a safe haven for me. I knew they would always play with me and make me feel like I was one of them.

My sisters both are working mothers. I understand that my being an actress as well as being at home isn't some heroic thing. That doesn't mean it isn't confusing or difficult - especially that question of how you find a balance.