It absolutely helped - to write the father in both 'Juicy' and 'Beasts ' I had to see the whole story from his point of view. All of a sudden I understood more of what my own father must be going through - the fear the frustration the anger... the hope that he'll leave a legacy.

Bosnia is under my skin. It's the place you cannot leave behind. I was obsessed by the nightmare of it all there was this sense of guilt and an anger that has become something much deeper over these last years.

Anger and hate against one we love steels our hearts but contempt or pity leaves us silent and ashamed.

Anger is a killing thing: it kills the man who angers for each rage leaves him less than he had been before - it takes something from him.

I started crying the other day just thinking that the baby is going to leave me soon! You have this relationship with this person in your belly and it's really amazing.

Every now and then I have blissful moments of thanking God for all the amazing things that are happening. When I leave the White House after just meeting Obama or when I see my face on the cover of 'Rolling Stone' or when I meet someone who tells me that their daughter is inspired by me those are moments that are incredibly joyful.

Becoming food savvy is one thing but it's amazing how fast savvy turns to snooty and snooty leaves you preparing three-hour meals that break your budget and that the kids won't even eat.

Being a teenager is an amazing time and a hard time. It's when you make your best friends - I have girls who will never leave my heart and I still talk to. You get the best and the worst as a teen. You have the best friendships and the worst heartbreaks.

But the wicked passions of men's hearts alone seem strong enough to leave pictures that persist the good are ever too luke-warm.

Some people can sometimes really invade your space and kind of never leave you alone.