Meet ELLE's 2014 Women in Hollywood

On motherhood and marriage:
"My ambition shifted when I had kids in a way that I didn't anticipate. I became more ambitious for my life as a whole, and for that kind of health and happiness of the overall family unit. And that very much includes my husband and very much includes me. My husband is always the one saying to me, 'You have to work, you have to work. This is part of who you are. We'll figure it out.' That's powerful, when your partner has that serious mantra."


On the best piece of advice she's ever received:
"It's recycled from Ma Ingalls from 'Little House on the Prairie'—something my mom quoted: Happiness is your own responsibility. Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning."

Jacket by Calvin Klein. Shirt and tie by Calvin Klein Collection.

On what she thinks makes her so driven:
"I'm not sure I know, but having been an obedient and nerdy kid, I'm very driven to receive praise. If I were a smarter person, I'd be driven to receive money. I'm a dope—all I want is, 'That was real good. Looks like you guys worked real hard on that.' It's always parent-teacher conference day in my mind."


On what she thinks of her successor in TV-writer stardom, Lena Dunham:
"There's a generational difference in our comedy. Her generation feels that to be nude and to be sexual on-screen is empowered, and we're on the end of a generation that's like, 'You're not gonna trick me into doing this!' But they say, 'We're not being cute, we're incorporating our genuine sexuality.' Which is an improvement. It's great."

Coat by Max Mara. Slip by Josie Natori. Earrings by Chopard. Bracelet by Pomellato. Pumps by Jimmy Choo.

On if she was reluctant to play Nina Simone in the upcoming biopic about the legendary songstress:
"I actually encouraged Cynthia to cast someone else. But she came to me and said that everybody was afraid, and I thought, 'Shit, then how can we complain that there aren't enough films about African-American iconic figures?'"


On if she always knew she'd make it:
"That's how those seven years my sisters and I spent on a bohemian island played very well. We're not American in terms of feeding into that machine that you have to be somebody. We were somebody the moment we were born."

Gown by Calvin Klein Collection. Cuff by David Yurman.

On if she ever had a career low:
"There were a couple of auditions…one of them for a slasher film. I was going to be naked and get my neck slashed in a bathtub. I was like, I might be broke right now, but I'll figure out another way to pay the rent."

Her response to the question: Which actress has the best career in Hollywood?

"I don't compare my career to other women's; I compare my career to men's. Why would I compare my career to the women's? They're not making as much money. And they don't get to work as much. So I compare myself to Paul Rudd. He's gotten way more opportunities than I have."


Bodysuit by Wolford. Necklace by David Yurman.

On her role in Beyond the Lights:
"One of the things that drew me to the project was the relationship between mother and daughter— that 'mom-ager' dynamic—because I grew up with a single mom, though my dad has definitely been in my life a lot. But my mom couldn't be more different from Minnie Driver's character. I was the pushy child, the one who wanted to be doing ballet and jazz and tap and everything."


On if she's had a moment where she thought to herself, Wow, I'm going to make it:
"It's funny—I never feel like, 'Oh, wow, I've made it.' I'm interested in the journey. I'm interested in the adventure of working with different people, and I guess as soon as you sit on your laurels and can go, 'Well, aren't I great?'—that's just the beginning of the end."

T-shirt and boxers by Calvin Klein Underwear. Necklaces by Chopard.

On if she wants to be a "movie star:"
"I don't really know what that word means. I want to be an actor. You're either a personality or some weird character actor. I would prefer to stay anonymous—to make movies but not work on Sunday, to be able to sit at a café and have no one pay attention to me. That's the dream, but I don't think it really works that way."


On what actor makes her want to step up her game:
"Mark Wahlberg. He does something that is very hard for me: He asks for help, which is especially important when you're the number one."

Shirt and jeans by Calvin Klein Jeans. Chain and charm by Links of London. Bracelets by David Yurman. Pumps by Manolo Blahnik.

On why she has seemingly always veered away from typically glamorous roles:
"I never really thought of myself in those terms. When you're young, you just take your beauty for granted. Sometimes I think, 'Shit, I should have done that film!' But it's a passing thought. I played the parts I wanted to play. I do have regrets about films I shouldn't have done, which took me away from my children. That's the only real regret—time wasted."


On if she ever had to fight for a role:
"I never did. This is probably that Minnesota reticence. If someone wasn't interested in me, fine, find someone else. I'm not going to convince you."

Blouse by Marc Jacobs.

On what the biggest surprise has been in her life as an actress:
"That movies would allow me to start and stop in a way that so many people couldn't. I always wanted kids, and I took years off when my kids were little, and I still do completely withdraw. It's been a way of saving myself and saving the work."


On if it bothers her if a film doesn't find a large audience:
"You have the experience of making it, and it has enormous meaning for you personally, but it doesn't necessarily mean anything to anyone else. Why would it? But for me it represents a period of my life."

Jacket by Céline. Shirt by The Row. Pants by Calvin Klein Collection. Earrings by Ana Khouri. Flats by Jimmy Choo. Her own rings.