JESSICA ALBA

Just being a mother is making me a big, weepy mess.

I don't like being the center of attention.

Living in L.A., everyone likes to mold you and change you. I don't care about fame, I don't care about being a celebrity. I know that's part of the job, but I don't feed into anyone's idea of who I should be.

I'm all about supporting anyone whose art is also the way they make their living.

I did research when I was pregnant with my first daughter and was horrified by the chemicals in products, even those meant for babies. I would have to go to 50 different places just to get my house and my kid clean.

I don't put weight on fame, and having people around me just because I am famous makes me feel really bad about myself.

Movies are the shadiest business in the world.

I thought it was my job to give all the boys their first kiss.

But I don't feel the need to be famous.

I could have sexual chemistry with vinegar.

My parents were young and liberal and knew I was going to drink anyway, so they let me do it at home.

I wish I could speak Spanish, because it would be a lot easier to play more interesting roles.

Every time I'd get a critique or some redirection, I'd always just take it very personally. Now I have no problem with it.

You have to be the best of whatever you are, but successful, cool actresses come in all shapes and sizes.

Everyone in my family is an artist in some capacity whether they're musicians, painters, or sculptors, so it's in their blood.

Everyone has an opinion of who you are and what your relationship is about, things that you've done or didn't do in your relationship - and it's just all crap, really. Things that are written about it are all crap.

The time I'm not spending with my kid has to be worth it, so when I sat down with my agents after I was ready to go back to work, I told them: It's all about the directors.

Most nights I end up wearing a wife beater T-shirt and boxers.

My theory is that if you look confident you can pull off anything - even if you have no clue what you're doing.

In Eastern culture, people see ghosts, people talk about ghosts... it's just accepted. And in Western culture it's just not.

It feels like I'm starting to come into my own in terms of where I want to go artistically, toward more complicated, interesting characters.

There's no such thing as a perfect guy. I think it would be strange if somebody was absolutely everything you always wanted, because then there'd be no challenge. Also, you'd feel inferior.

When I do comedy, I lose all inhibition and introspection. I no longer care.

I've got cousins galore. Mexicans just spread all their seeds. And the women just pop them out.

I wish there were two of me and 48-hour days so I could get everything done. But for me, I have to not try and think that everything has to be 100% perfect all the time and leave room for error. As long as my kids feel loved and a priority, everything really is secondary.