My mother gave up her career bringing us up, and she has played a very important role in keeping us grounded. Even now I don't take my work home, my stardom home. It ends where it is supposed to end. There is a life beyond stardom, and it's a very normal life which I cherish. I anyway don't handle attention very well.
Being in the public eye, you're always worried about what angle people are going to take pictures of you at. I don't really care anymore.
I still see myself on TV and think, 'Oh my God, I'm on a television, and there are millions of people watching,' and I get really nervous and embarrassed and insecure.
I've never dreamed of being famous. The idea of it really scares me.
As for 'Twin Peaks,' I'm happy to have been a part of something that was a success. The only time I was concerned was during the second season when it started to lose its focus, and I was thinking, 'What if I get stuck here for five years? I would go crazy.'
The idea of me being an icon or something is a very funny thing, just because of my own weird insecurities. But, yeah... probably because I toiled away being nothing for so long.
Fame really drove me into my house. I was very paranoid. I didn't like going out. I had no idea how to be comfortable with the press. I was very young. It was really hard for me.
At first it was exhilarating but when I realized it wasn't going away, it became scary and claustrophobic. Fame is a weird thing.
The last thing I want is to walk into my house after a long day and see all the Grammys and awards. It would make me feel weird.
I was suddenly really famous, and I didn't know how to cope. I didn't know myself well enough as a person, number one, and as an actor, number two. I wanted to escape.
I struggle immensely with celebrities of all kinds. I get clammy hands and turn a little purple.
I don't consider myself a celebrity. That would be kind of sad.
I flinch when I see my name in the newspapers.
When they say, 'Well, you gotta do some interviews on TV,' I went, 'Oh, I like to watch TV, but I don't wanna be on it.'
I'm not recognized very often, and if I am, it's a die-hard Veronica Mars fan. Which is usually flattering and an honor. I really try not to think about it.
I spent my whole life avoiding the public eye. At these food shows, I'm open quarry again.
While 'Felicity' was successful in the States, and I had opportunities to do other stuff, I didn't want to do anything to make myself more famous. I wasn't dealing well with the celebrity of all of that. I was 23 - just a kid - and not coming from money, it was all just too much. I just wanted to slow it down a little bit, and gain control.
People look at me and keep walking - but you can tell they know who I am. I want them to bug me. It's gonna be a sad day when they don't.
It's hard for me to just say, 'Wow, this is amazing - I'm famous. I'm living the dream.' I sit there and think, 'I'm scared - this can go away tomorrow.' My dad always says that I'm a tortured soul because I'm never pleased; I never feel like I deserve what I've achieved.
I've always had this fear in me. What would life be like if I wasn't Number 1 on television? But I've learnt to overcome that fear.
When I was about to be famous, I feared it on a few levels. I feared it because I didn't want people to lump me in with those people who'd do anything to be famous. I didn't like the word 'celebrity.' I feared intrusion, you know? Make me famous, and suddenly you can go through my trash bins.
Fame has always been a downside to acting for me. It gives me the creeps.
I don't get insecure and rush to sign movies just to be in the public view and news. That is not the way I am.
I get scared of a lot of attention. I get scared of the spotlight. And I'm not talking about on the basketball court.
I grew up craving the spotlight, and once it happened, I immediately recoiled.
