Life's too short when you find yourself sitting in a car for four hours every day trying to get from East L.A. to West L.A. to Hollywood and then back to East L.A.

People are always saying that Hollywood messes up kids. I'm like 'No families mess up kids!' I grew up in Hollywood and I'm perfectly fine. If my children want to go into the entertainment business I won't stop them as long as they're passionate about it.

I know I did the right thing by taking time off to raise my son. But it also came at a price. I turned down many opportunities over the years because I didn't want to leave him for long periods of time. And in Hollywood as in any business the calls stop coming when you don't answer.

Well there's different shades of Hollywood sure. I mean I'm working in this business but I'm not Hollywood.

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.