I got pregnant at 40 by surprise. It's funny because when we found out we were pregnant I said 'Okay let's experience that.' You just have to just go with it because it's rare.

But because we've all been readers we know what the experience is like and we hope that what certain writers have given to us we will give to someone.

You want to do something that shows some type individuality and talent and imagination - at the same time you want to be truthful to the predecessors because obviously the audience liked something about them and you have to replicate that experience to a certain extent.

My advice would be to write what is most personal and specific to your experience or your life. And your voice will emerge and because of its specificity it will be universal.

It's really fun at night because I can see the baby kicking. I can feel the knee or the foot. The baby is starting to get heavy and it's a really incredible feeling. I'm so grateful I get to experience this.

I don't think people should have boundaries put on them by themselves or society or another gender because it's our birthright to experience life in whatever way we feel best suits us.

The greatest way for people to experience a comedy is to go in not knowing anything about it. But because of marketing it's impossible. Marketing meaning that in order to get people to come you can't just go 'Hey there's a great movie - we're not going to show you anything from it but trust us!'

My time at Shell was a most valuable experience because it taught me to look at the world in a long-term way. Shell takes a 20-year view on events and plans for different scenarios. It makes you see the world as a kind of large matrix.

With 'Bright Star' and with 'The Piano ' too I felt a kind of sadness about it being in such a different era because of my lack of experience with the era. And one of the ways I'd get over it is to remind myself that every film even if it's contemporary creates its own world.

When I'm writing I'm constantly thinking about myself because it's the only experience I have to draw on. And I don't see an exact reflection of myself in every face in the audience but I know that my songs have validity to them and that's why the fans are there.

We certainly want those at the top to do well but if you base your entire presidency and your entire economic platform on helping them do even better you're missing what makes the economy tick. Because not everyone has been as fortunate as Mitt Romney you cannot base your whole approach on a life experience as rarified as his.

It was a great experience for a kid because it was a bunch of kids playing on pirate ships and water slides so looking back on it it was the fondest experience of my childhood.

I eventually became proud of my strikeouts because each one represented another learning experience.

I think you just assume that your memory is just sort of a video playback of your experience but it's nothing like that at all. It's a complete refabrication of an event and a lot of it is made up because you're filling in spaces.

When I'm writing I'm trying to immerse myself in the chaos of an emotional experience rather than separate myself from it and look back at it from a distance with clarity and tell it as a story. Because that's how life is lived you know?

'Donny and Marie' was a great experience. I tried so hard to be a great talk show host but it's all about relaxing and enjoying it. Marie and I finally figured that out. I would have liked it to continue but I'm kind of glad it's over because of the phenomenal workload.

But in the back of my mind I've always looked to the biggest-scale Hollywood movies. Because to me the most satisfying experience is of watching a movie if it's done really well. And so that aspiration is always it for me if I have the opportunity to do it.

Actually music gave me the support when I needed it. I would never have gone to college unless I'd gotten a piano scholarship. And now I'm so glad I got to learn to play the cello which is a different experience you're flexing a different muscle but it's beautiful because it is music.

Acting can be a narrow and isolated experience because you only examine your particular part.

Do I ever think Gossip will be really massive in America? No I don't think it'll happen - and that's fine. It's kind of nice because I get to experience everything at once. I get to come home and it not be weird like in Paris or something. It is nice to be completely anonymous.

I think being a parent is the most challenging thing you do. That's why we're here. It's at the heart of what it is to be a human being. It's the ultimate experience because it questions everything about who you are. But it's difficult.

I started off on stage because it was the only work I could get. I haven't been back for 11 years. I think any stage experience is good experience as far as being an actor is concerned.

I left Jamaica for a while because as an artist I need to experience different things see the world have different energies. Living in one place is not good for me.

I have three goddaughters - I'm not sure why they trust me because I have no experience with children - but I try.