I remember my first run-in with cops. It took me really getting to hang, well after that, with cops who were cool, and realizing, 'Okay, there are some bad ones.' I ran into some bad ones in Columbus, Ohio, but they're not all bad.

With 'Rampart,' I read it and I'm like, 'That's the best role I've ever been offered. Phenomenal.' But, I was daunted, you know? Like the concept of trying to be a cop. It's just bizarre, man. Bizarre to even think about.

I think, on a personal level, everybody, when you go through the checkout line after you get your groceries and they say, 'Paper or plastic?' We should be saying, 'Neither one.' We should have our own cloth bags.

Pesticides came about after the first world war. Some brainy petrochemical money maker said, 'Hey, that mustard gas worked great on people, maybe we could dilute it down and spray it on our crops to deal with pests.'

Economically, many folks don't feel they can afford organic. While this may be true in some cases, I think more often than not it's a question of priority. I feel it's one of the most important areas of concern ecologically, because the petrochemical giants - DuPont, Monsanto - make huge money by poisoning us.

Everything I do, I try to think, Okay, what are the ramifications? Like, with the clothes I wear, I prefer if it's grown organically, because cotton - which is what's used in most clothing - takes up 50 percent of all pesticide use.

I was in a taxi the other night, and we started talking about life and the taxi driver goes, 'Chaos and creativity go together. If you lose one per cent of your chaos, you lose your creativity.' I said that's the most brilliant thing I've heard. I needed to hear that years ago.

Everything is poisoned, and it's all poisoned from greed. I think our inability to communicate with each other and everything that's happening in the world is all a symptom of our greater inability to deal with nature appropriately.

We all have the same needs. So it's immoral to make snap judgments about people.

I feel like women have an easier time separating from their characters than men do.

Working for with someone who has no idea what they wanted... it would just be so all over the place, especially with something on this scale. You have to know what you want with this.

Dancing was a big part of my life, but I would never consider myself a dancer. I adore singing, and music has always been a huge part of my life, but I also enjoy acting.

I relate to all of my songs and I'm inspired by everything going on around me. Music comes from all different aspects of my life.

Movies and acting are so much fun. I love playing different characters and doing different genres. It's all still very interesting to me.

Work hard and follow your dreams, but never forget where you came from.

I love acting, but I don't know if I'll ever get used to it.

I always wanted to do dramas. Ever since I was young, I wanted to be in a role where I could play a prostitute or a drug addict, because it's nice to be able to portray someone who is so far from you, which I love.

It's always great to play parts that are larger than life.

If I'm singing, I'm happy - that's what I've learned about myself.

I've always had problems with guys!

I'm not good with catty girls. I'm too laid-back.

If you're someone that people look up to, they're gonna always find a way to bring you down.

I think I'd make a pretty good girlfriend.

I like someone who's not afraid to be a kid!

I took piano lessons when I was younger and I've been trying to learn how to play the guitar recently. I'd really like to learn how to play the drums. They're a lot of fun and they require a lot of focus.

I'd like to win an Oscar.

When you get to sing with someone you care about, it's magical.

I'm becoming more adventurous.

I love what I do and I am surrounded by some incredible people.

If you have paparazzi, you know you've gotten somewhere.

I don't like being stagnant. I want to continue to grow and just be better at what I do, and the only way to do that is to keep stepping outside of your comfort zone.

I've always wanted to play Maria in West Side Story. My idol is Natalie Wood, and I love the movie, so I think a modern-day twist on it would be really neat.

I feel completely safe in my house but all my friends are scared for me. And of course I can tell my parents panic a little. The best thing about living alone is being able to have my friends come over whenever.

If you really love someone, you shouldn't have to work at it, you finish each others' sentences and have the same sense of humor.

I'm not very experienced with boys or the whole dating thingy.

If you're always worried about being on your phone, then you really are missing out on everything that's happening in front of you.

I love a guy who can make me laugh.

People are always going to say stuff about you and there are always going to be crazy rumours out there, but as long as you know the truth, you're fine.

You'll always have to fight for what you want. Definitely crossing over and being able to tackle these grittier parts was a challenge, but I feel like I've done it! It's a whole new chapter.

I've had many nicknames over the years: V, Nessa, Nessy Poo, Nessy Bear and Van. Only my parents call me Van, though, and I hate it. I get embarrassed.

I think it's really healing to see movies that are based on true stories. It builds so much more compassion and empathy.

I'm really an outdoorsy girl. People think I can't go anywhere without getting all primped up, but I love to go camping, and I'm totally fine with not doing my hair or makeup, not taking a shower and just hiking.

When you're putting good stuff into your body, you feel so much better.

If people don't like me for whatever I do, for being me, then that's too bad. I don't want to change to be something that I'm not for other people to like me.

I love children. They're so much fun and I would have a blast spoiling them.

I love doing theater. That's where my home is.

If there's a spotlight on you, people are going to look for a reason to bring you down.

You have to be able to love yourself because that's when things fall into place.

I'm not the same girl I was five years ago. Hopefully, with the choices I'm making people will start to see that I'm not just little Gabriella.

I guess I'm one of those girls who can be too honest about things for my own good, but I expect it back. I expect people to be honest and blunt with me, too.