I think all women in Hollywood are known as sex symbols. That's what our purpose is in this business. You're merchandised you're a product. You're sold and it's based on sex. But that's okay. I think women should be empowered by that not degraded.

Mickey Mouse popped out of my mind onto a drawing pad 20 years ago on a train ride from Manhattan to Hollywood at a time when business fortunes of my brother Roy and myself were at lowest ebb and disaster seemed right around the corner.

I had been offered a Hollywood contract before my 18th birthday. It gave me the spark I needed.

In 1993 my birthday present was a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

Are we changing the idea of what beauty is? Let's hope so. I'm not the typical Hollywood beauty. Let's hope we're looking at the insides of people a little more.

I hope that in some way that I can be some sort of beacon of hope especially because I am not the typical Hollywood beauty.

Hollywood needs to recognise all shades of African American beauty.

My attitude about Hollywood is that I wouldn't walk across the street to pull one of those executives out of the snow if he was bleeding to death. Not unless I was paid for it. None of them ever did me any favors.

After working for years in Hollywood where the actors have taken over it was a real relief to get down there and not only have some children but also have some actors that had no attitude.

Hollywood's a very weird place. I think there's less of everything except for attitude.

What you have now is a Hollywood that is pure poison. Hollywood was a central place in the history of art in the 20th century: it was human idealism preserved. And then like any great place it collapsed and it collapsed into the most awful machinery in the world.

I don't find Hollywood interesting so I'm thinking of studying architecture instead.

I had amazing stuff happen right off the top. I thought this was how it worked. Hollywood is awesome! Cut to three years later: What happened?

Everybody just asks me 'Are you going to make Hollywood movies now?' First I don't know. Second I never dreamed about that I just dreamed about making movies with Tarantino. So if I can make movies with a lot of amazing directors - yes.

Hollywood is the place to be for actors - and there's just a big rush when an Australian comes over just because there's less of them. I guess that's just how it is. Like if you pick a pink jellybean out of a jar of green ones it'd be amazing but if you pick a green one no one will care.

There's the Hollywood sign there's Griffith Observatory there's the great amazing Los Angeles Basin. It's 465 square miles of insanity and the best food on the planet.

It's amazing marrying someone who wants nothing to do with Hollywood.

I used to think as I looked out on the Hollywood night 'There must be thousands of girls sitting alone like me dreaming of being a movie star.' But I'm not going to worry about them. I'm dreaming the hardest.

In Hollywood you play a mom and the next thing you know you're on 'The Golden Girls.' They age you so fast.

It's hard for women at my age in Hollywood but I'm not discouraged.

I remember being in Hollywood at the age of 16 and marveling at the stars. The idea of being part of it never entered my mind. It was too far-fetched.