You're never too fat for a new purse.

We were so unprepared that when my husband took off to get groceries, and we'd adopted a 3-year-old, he came back with baby formula, a steak and a teething ring. We had no idea what we were doing. But you learn. There's no way to fully prepare. Just eyes wide open - jump.

I feel that the industry can be sliced into two categories - grateful actors and non-grateful actors. I'm always so appreciative that this has happened for me - and against all odds - as a middle child from Canada. I'm very grateful.

When I used to do musical theatre, my dad refused to come backstage. He never wanted to see the props up close or the sets up close. He didn't want to see the magic.

It's impossible for success to go to your head with a Greek mom - no way.

Let's face it: Russell Crowe is fat and no one ever talks about it.

Our daughter was not damaged or hurt in any way. She was simply relinquished to foster care by two people who were not ready to be parents. I admire them for giving her the chance for a better life. And I am grateful they gave my husband and me the opportunity to be parents.

I have found that every family has a strange remedy for any situation - from 'Use Fantastic to get the scuff off your patent leather shoes!' to 'Soak an aspirin in a glass of water to get rid of a migraine.'

The candid and honest and pure heartedness of children has strengthened my views that we are all equal and should be afforded the basic human rights that we all deserve.

When I write something, I constantly rewrite.

The white hot publicity that came from 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' was appreciated but not sought, so I was happy to walk away from it and then write.

I was a very studious student and usually got A's. I did not like school, because I wasn't popular - I was a nerd.

I don't work that much because I am selective.

What I wish I had, is that I wish I was a little more Greek, in that I wish I could lose my North American driven attitude and that I could be a little bit more poetic and laissez faire.

I don't card out my screenplays ever. I just have an idea I just sit down and write I don't edit.

I think our skin clears up and we're nicer when you are in love.

I thought I was attractive when I shot 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding.' Studio executives and movie reviewers let me know I had a confidence in my looks that was not shared by them.

My daughter is a preschooler but I have only known her for a while. She is adopted.

On November 15th, 2008, in over 300 cities, 4,000 children were adopted in one day.

We live in an unsafe world.

There's a feeling sometimes in motherhood that you're alone in what you're going through, and none of us are alone. We're all going through the same thing.

I've had designers say to my face, 'Oh, I want to dress you now that you're skinny.' And that's really rude.

I grew up looking for myself onscreen and never could find myself. And I believe that I am supposed to be Toula to show people that it's O.K. to be different.

I believe that there are moments in everyone's lives where a door flings open, and if you're terrified of what's on the other side, you must walk through it.

It was a sad process for me to become a mom, and a long process. I felt so embarrassed that I couldn't have a biological child.

I think it's almost easier to do a kissing scene with someone you don't know.

I had worked for ten years in theater; I had worked at Second City in Chicago. Then I got to Hollywood, and I was like, naively, 'Where's my pilot?'

I don't temper how I feel. I'm Greek. I've got emotions.

There are benefits to adopting a toddler. They can tell you what's wrong. And - everything we did with our daughter was a first. Her first tooth fairy. Santa.

I did go through a bit of a dark time during the years I was trying to be a mom. But I'm basically a very positive person.

I feel that the industry can be sliced into two categories - grateful actors and non-grateful actors.

On my daughter's first day of kindergarten, another mom said something that made me realize I had become my own Greek, suffocating mother. She said, 'Just think, in 13 years they'll leave us and go to college!' And I went, 'Gulp.'

I think there is a moment in every parent's life where we realize that we have lost ourselves a little bit. It's a moment of looking in the mirror and going, 'I need to put on some lipstick.'

I never card out a movie. You know how people will outline or card? I don't do that. I tend to start with an idea and go.

I think it's probably a universal experience that all parents think they're not hovering, but perhaps we all are.

We absolutely have to support our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. We just must. It's not fair that they don't get to live an authentic life.

You're as strong as the actors you're working with, your partners.

I believe that you will not get what you want unless you ask for it.

We must make choices that are outside of the familial expectations of us, or we'll just be repeating the mistakes. Our parents came here to give us better choices.

Women have to write for each other; we have to hire each other.

It's called show business for a reason. The theater owners want to make money, and understandably so.

Lately, I've been in meetings regarding a new script idea I have. A studio executive asked me to change the female lead to a male, because... 'Women don't go to movies.' Really?

I'm not proud of this, but I had a lot of misconceptions about American foster care. To me, foster care meant that a child would be placed with you, then taken away. I didn't want to go through all of that.

I was worried if you adopted a foster child, someone from the birth family could still come and take her back. I was afraid that any child in foster care might have suffered such trauma or neglect that she would be impossible to reach. I'm not proud of these fears. But I understand now when others ask me the same questions.

I'm a private person who doesn't relish making her personal life public.

Like most women, I thought it would be easy once I decided to start a family. I was surprised that Mother Nature kept poking me in the eye, saying, 'Nope, nope, nope.'

My favorite part of any playdate comes later when I get to carry my exhausted and sleeping daughter to the car. Is there anything more trusting than a sleeping child completely and utterly leaning into your body?

Every time I sign a contract, I donate something to charity and buy a piece of jewelry. Whether the movie gets made or not, it's a celebration.

I believe that if I come home from a stressful day on the set, I just have to leave it there.

I write through improvisation. I never card out a movie. You know how people will outline or card? I don't do that. I tend to start with an idea and go.