Joan Allen

My favorite way of learning for acting has been doing it, not talking about it.

I think there's been a tendency to place me in what has been characterised as the 'moral centre' of the film. In films like 'The Ice Storm' and 'The Crucible' and 'Nixon,' that's the sort of the persona that emerged.

I think I knew acting was what I wanted to do. But I was from this small town and there was no place for an adult to recognise it.

I don't have a political bone in my body.

I wasn't one of those kids who was like, 'Get me to New York. Get me to a big city.' I was always much more shy. All I knew was that I loved to act.

I'm hard to pin down. I tend to look different in films.

Everything starts with what's on the page, what a writer has come up with. And whether it is a big studio film or independent film, is the story being well told? Is it interesting? Is the character interesting? And is there something about the character that may stretch me?

I was the good girl. The straight A student, on the honour roll, part of the choir... I played the cello badly. I did plays.

I didn't really think about being a movie star. I was more about theater.

I think the people who cast films tend to think of me in regard to strong women with integrity and a lot of it has been very good.

I was always much more shy. All I knew was that I loved to act. But I don't know about the other part of it. I'm not sure I had the chutzpah to go and prove yourself.

I think that I do separate myself a fair amount. And I don't feel like I am representing women. That's up to however people interpret it once they sort of see it.