In a democracy citizens pass judgment on their government and if they are kept in the dark about what their government is doing they cannot be in a position to make well-grounded decisions.

I like to say jazz music is kind of like my musical equivalent of comfort food. You know it's always where I go back to when I just want to feel sort of grounded.

I don't feel I was ever a 'famous' child actor. I was just a working actor who happened to be a kid. I was never really in a hit show until I was a teenager with West Wing playing First Daughter Zoey Bartlet. In a way that was my saving grace - not being a star on a hit show. It kept me working and kept me grounded.

I'm not in the business of becoming famous. And that's the advice I give to younger aspiring actors. Work onstage and do the little roles. In the end it's not important to be seen. It's important to do. There's a lot of disappointment in this business but my family keeps me grounded.

My family truly believes they are better cooks than I am. They see me as Giada not as a celebrity chef. To them I'm just me - their granddaughter niece etc. and they're older and wiser. I like that because it keeps you grounded.

When I do get free time I spend a lot of it at home with my family and my close friends and I think that's what keeps me happy healthy grounded and totally in check.

Going home and spending time with your family and your real friends keeps you grounded.

Until as recently as November of 1966 I had complete faith in the Warren Report. Of course my faith in the Report was grounded in ignorance since I had never read it.

On the one hand I've had such a normal upbringing with my mum who has kept me grounded but on the other the wild experiences through my dad.

My father was grounded a very meat-and-potatoes man. He was a baker.