Lauren Graham

“I think what my hope is is that the only downside of having a steady job on television is, I think for all actors, there's a piece, there's some adrenaline, and part of the love of the job is not knowing what's coming next, and the variety.”

“Once again, I've been thwarted by the massive difference between my vision of the successful me and the me I'm currently stuck with.”

“I've always thought my strengths were I'm smart, and I have a good sense of humor. I definitely struggle with feeling confident.”

“I love doing the 'New York Times' crossword puzzle, even on the days I can't finish it.”

“Because I have no consistent schedule as an actor, it was difficult to develop one as a writer. Ideally, I'd like to write first thing in the morning, every day. But sometimes I'm called to set before the sun comes up, or I've worked late the night before, or I'm on a plane.”

“One thing I've learned is I actually don't like variety very much. I like having the same thing over and over: assorted lean proteins, arugula salad, quinoa or brown rice with soy sauce, olive oil, lemon, and salt. Those ingredients can pretty much get me through the week.”

“None of my characters have really had jobs.”

“I didn't grow up identifying with beauty. I grew up thinking I could be smart and funny - those are the things I got feedback on.”

“You want the story to end when it's supposed to and not be squeezed for somebody's financial gain.”

“I love TV. I think I'd do a half-hour single-camera comedy.”

“These days I have to be extra nice in stores. It never fails that whenever I look as bad as I can possibly look or I am sort of cranky because the store is out of something, that is precisely the time when someone one will recognize me and say: 'I really like your show.'”

“Like my dad, I have a Christmas party most years. I like to celebrate and see as many people as possible.”

“'Mom' isn't an adjective or a personality; they're not all the same.”

“I've pretty much always been on a diet since I was born. And the women in my family struggle, so I find the less I think about food, in a way, the happier I am. In general, I think I eat less the less I think about it.”

“I would like to be part of a family, however that looks. Family is really important to me.”

“I get a delivery of a diet food during the week, which doesn't mean that I don't eat the occasional Krispy Kreme doughnut.”

“Perspective is the most important thing to have in life.”

“What I remember about coming to L.A. is that suddenly work was as big a presence in my life as my life itself.”

“Honestly, I was such a tomboy as a kid. People were taking from their mothers' closets - I was taking from my dad's closet. It was the '80s, so it wasn't terrible, but I was wearing my dad's dress shirts over jeans from the Gap.”

“I dream of playing Lady Cora's sister on 'Downton Abbey.'”