Meryl Streep

"Laughter doesn't cost anything, but it's worth everything."

"There are two ways to live your life. One with fear, one without."

"The choices we make reveal who we truly are far more than our abilities."

"If you want your daughters to think you're the coolest thing on earth, you have to do something that interests you."

"The difference between pretending to be a character and pretending to be a better version of yourself is vast."

"Vulgarity is no substitute for wit."

"I know how to do my job, and I do it very well."

"My mother said I was a little odd as a kid, and that was a gift."

"You can't just act your way through life."

"The best revenge is a life lived well."

"It takes years to become who you want to be."

"I think your whole life shows in your face."

"Acting is not a competitive sport. There's enough room for everyone."

"What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. The question is what you think about it."

"The work is so wonderful, and when you get to work with great people, it's even better."

"I want to live as I have always lived."

"The female characters I've been attracted to are ones with a lot of depth and a lot of baggage."

"I don't think of myself as a movie star. I think of myself as an actor."

"I'm a very curious person, and I'm always looking for the next challenge."

"The best part of my career has been working with people who are smarter than I am."

"There's no way to bridge the divide without empathy."

"I wanted to be a lawyer. I didn't want to be an actor."

"You can find unbelievable beauty in struggle."

"It's really important to know who you are on the inside."

"Divorce was a constant in my family."

"I'm not a big fan of dressing up. I'm very comfortable in jeans."

"The key to success is really just to do the work you love."

"I think the most important thing about raising children is to make them feel loved."

"I've been lucky to have a career where I could take risks."

"Getting older has been a gift, not a curse."