Shields: "I don't ever feel like I have it all together."

Shields: "Being nice to everybody, saying hello to everyone in the room, signing every autograph; it was instilled in me at a very young age that this was what I was suppose to do. But I don't think it helps at all. I see more people who are rude or arrogant being rewarded - but, this way, I can put my head on the pillow at night."

Shields: "People think of me as a mannequin, all show and no substance."

Shields: "I always sold other peoples' fashions, so I wore jeans and t-shirts, and I put on what they needed to sell, and I'd sell it. So as far a nurturing my own style, it took me quite a long time to do it."

Shields: "Don't waste a minute not being happy. If one window closes, run to the next window- or break down a door."

Shields: "Someone said adversity builds character, but someone else said adversity reveals character. I'm pleasantly surprised with my resilience. I persevere, and not just blindly. I take the best, get rid of the rest, and move on, realizing that you can make a choice to take the good."

Shields: "As I'm getting older, I'm enjoying my vices so much more because I feel like I've deserved them."

Shields: "I was always with a single mom, and we never had schedules or anything. We were just Bohemian, us against the world, which was kind of great, but it certainly didn't breed security. I've gotten hyper-sensitive to schedules and bath time and eating at the dinner table. We don't just 'Bohemian' go out at nine o'clock and go get Chinese food."

Shields: "You don't necessarily have to be in misery to be talented."

Shields: "I think once you have children, you just don't have the same kind of freedom to pick up and go. But then, I sort of think, how often did I really do it? How spontaneous was I really? Part of what I think I miss is this fantasy of my wild days, but they never existed!"

Shields: "Depression is so smart - it uses all your references and patterns."

Shields: "At Princeton I gained a great deal of pleasure from success in my classes. knowing that I could accomplish those things, and I realized that my success was directly proportionate to the work I put in."

Shields: "I think I'm going to have to live vicariously through my daughter's rebellion because I certainly never did go through adolescence."

Shields: "I've never found therapy to be a sign of weakness; I've found the opposite to be true. The willingness to have a mirror held up to you definitely requires strength."

Shields: "From the time I could speak, I knew I wanted to have children. It was just an innate desire."

Shields: "I went to an ordinary school in New York City with no other actors. I learned to compartmentalise different parts of my life. I was one person at home and then another person at work and for that reason my career didn't challenge my family life."

Shields: "Honesty is the quality I value most in a friend. Not bluntness, but honesty with compassion."

Shields: "Everybody says, 'When you have kids, you really get away from yourself.' But really, it's the most selfish thing I've ever done. It's like, Okay, I'm going to create unconditional love for myself, and I'm going to need it and want it and ask for it every day, and I'm going to get it."

Shields: "Too many people use abortion as a form of birth control. And that's very wrong. I could never, ever have an abortion."

Shields: "The older I get, the younger I feel. Growing up, I was always the kid, but I spoke like an adult and was in adult roles. I didn't feel like a kid. The older I get, I actually feel younger! Which is good. I always thought when you get older, you'll want to slow down, but I want to do even more."

Shields: "Have faith in your own thoughts."