I think violence cynicism brutality and fashion are the staples of our diet. I think in the grand history of story-telling going back to people sitting around fires the dark side of human nature has always been very important. Movies are part of that tradition.

The actual tragedies of life bear no relation to one's preconceived ideas. In the event one is always bewildered by their simplicity their grandeur of design and by that element of the bizarre which seems inherent in them.

I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder as the opening of a grand scene and design in providence for the illumination of the ignorant and the emancipation of the slavish part of mankind all over the earth.

I think the way we talk about cancer has really evolved. I remember the way my grandmother used to talk about it like a death sentence no-one would even mention the word.

The Greeks said grandly in their tragic phrase 'Let no one be called happy till his death' to which I would add 'Let no one till his death be called unhappy.'

The ideal death I think is what was the ideal Victorian death you know with your grandchildren around you a bit of sobbing. And you say goodbye to your loved ones making certain that one of them has been left behind to look after the shop.

My dad recently reminded me that my grandfather's cousin was Lefty Frizzell.

No like I said my dad was never really part of the tennis. His involvement around what I did with the tennis and with my mom and my grandparents was really not a part of my life.

My grandmother was an actress too. In the thirties and forties she was under contract with Universal Studios. Crazy credits lots of them. My dad was also under contract with Universal Studios. And my first film was shot on the same stage they both worked on at Universal.

My dad and grandpa were in the army and as a country singer you're constantly playing at military bases all across the country and meeting soldiers and their families and hearing their stories.