Kim Basinger

“I think any girl who comes to Hollywood with sex symbol or bombshell hanging over her has a rough road.”

“I just absolutely, totally hated school. It was like a prison to me. I just could not stand that structured, absolute disciplined way of having to deal with life.”

“Nobody interviewed Kitty Potter about what she wore. I would have loved to hear what she would have said about some of this stuff.”

“I don't live by a lot of society's rules; I can't pattern myself after the herd.”

“I never really saw my dad as entertained as when he was just completely blown away by somebody on the television screen or at the movies. I think that's the real reason that I went into acting.”

“In this business, you can be at the top of the world and at the bottom of the barrel, and you're grape juice. I've been at both ends. It can make you become what you really are.”

“I'm extremely competitive with myself. But I'm not actively competitive with other women in the business. Which may have been a mistake. I've never had someone in my life, agent or otherwise, fighting for me.”

“If anyone has a dream out there, just know that I'm living proof that they do come true.”

“You lose your anonymity just like a helium balloon with a string. Therefore people are going to have their own opinion and they're going to write in whatever clever manner they desire.”

“I've just always believed you can get anything you want in this life - anything you want.”

“My hand still shakes when I sign autographs. I still go and sit in the movies like everyone else and look up there and go 'God! Movie stars! Wow!' And I'm in this business. I walk out there just fascinated, and I always want to stay like that. I'm just a little kid going to these movies, and I don't ever want to change.”

“I love to be nervous before a scene.”

“Clarity keeps you from boredom.”

“It always takes the truth a little bit longer to cross the finish line.”

“I'm a very determined businesswoman... I've got lots of things to do, and I don't have time to be classified as difficult, and I don't have time.”

“I've been to fights, and I've seen them on television, but no, I would not call myself a fan of the sport, that particular sport, no.”

“I grew up on soul music. I was a dancing little creep.”

“I was doing publicity for 'The Getaway'; people were coming in from all over the world to do six-minute interviews.”

“The smartest thing you can do in this business is get connected with a great agent to help you. Get connected with people who will form a family around you, or a moat.”

“There's no doubt that becoming a mother was the greatest thing I'll ever do.”