Cobie Smulders

“I would drive down in my Volkswagen Jetta to Los Angeles and just audition, audition, audition, audition, and hopefully get something. I did that for two years, and the third year I came down, I auditioned for 'How I Met Your Mother.'”

“I don't allow the stress of the unknown to affect my health, and I listen to my body when it sends me distress signals.”

“I'm always looking for interesting stories, and I feel in independent film there's more opportunity.”

“When you're driving Tom Cruise around, and he's literally a race car driver, and you're supposed to be driving like you really know what you're doing... It's quite intimidating.”

“Joss Whedon, he is really hands-on, and he wants every character to have a life on and off screen.”

“Models need to be unionized.”

“Who isn't a fan of Tom Cruise? He has been in so many amazing movies.”

“I felt very patriotic playing a New York City cop.”

“I was on a strict diet to stay in shape for 'Jack Reacher,' but each day on set in New Orleans, catering dropped off delicious food at my trailer.”

“In my early twenties, I had no idea who I was. And I think that's one reason you should try different relationships. I've had good and bad ones, but I took away things from them that helped me become who I am.”

“Anytime anybody jumps out at me, I scream.”

“I studied acting throughout high school, then modelling took over because it brought more opportunity. When I quit modelling, coming back to Vancouver, I registered at the University of Victoria.”

“There are so many ways to work out, and it is exhausting.”

“The experience of pregnancy - it depends on your situation, but it can be quite isolating.”

“I feel like starring in a TV show is such a fun thing.”

“I went to a cleansing retreat in the desert where I didn't eat for eight days and experienced hunger-driven hallucinations.”

“Secretly, or maybe not so secretly, I've always wanted to be a rock star.”

“Kindness is something that I feel is leaving us a little bit - people are getting more self-involved.”

“There's sacrifice involved. Either you're going to work a lot and not get to spend time with your kid, or you're going to spend a ton of time with your kid, and you're sacrificing your career.”

“I'm not going to be very picky. If something comes to me and I want to do it, I'll do it.”