Being a part of 'Sex and the City' was like being at the center of the universe - it was extraordinary.
Back in the day, I would wear up to 45 pounds of gold. It would take me four hours to get dressed!
At first, when you go to premieres and award shows, you're thinking, 'How the hell am I here? All these people I've never met are here, and it's so cool!' And then, as time goes on, it's a little bit like, 'Ah... it's more like work.'
I've been simultaneously drawn to and repelled from Hollywood for years.
When most people think about Nevada, they often instantly associate us with the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip.
Hollywood wouldn't suit me. In L.A. it's all about work - studio people have their five minutes with you and they go, 'Oh mah Gahd, I love your movie.' You just feel very self-conscious there.
Hollywood is a very inspiring place.
I don't lead a Hollywood lifestyle.
I don't necessarily need Hollywood.
I live my life outside of the glitz and glamour of the red carpet events, and so you'll never see me there. I'm never at parties.
There are those, I think, who are attracted to the glitz of celebrity life. I am not one of them.
I've certainly been to Hollywood parties, and I have friends that are ridiculous - wonderful people - but they're high rollers with tons of money.
I could have been more famous if I did all the glitzy things, but celebrity always seemed so unnecessary.
Hollywood is an image. We project these fantasies on to it, but people are just people.
I don't like celebrities; I don't hang out with them; I don't relate to that life.
L.A. can be very superficial, and it's hard to meet cool people here. I try to stay away from the glitzy side of the business and have a normal life as much as possible. I keep to myself.
There's a certain level of pageantry with 'Idol,' and in order to work the show, you kind of have to feed into it.
When you're around me, you're going to get glitter on you.
Walking down the red carpet, suddenly I felt very special and different. All the flashlights from cameras and requesting voices from the media, the scene, it was just like what I remembered seeing on TV or a movie when I was a little girl - the scene only when movie stars appeared.
Hollywood is not suited for me, and I am not suited for it.
Everyone has a warped vision of Hollywood and what success in Hollywood is like.
As far as my own life goes, I don't buy into the Hollywood scene.
For the most part, these awards shows, while they are fun, they're high-pressure for the people who are nominated and for those walking the red carpet.
If you're going to be a movie star, you should live like one.
Hollywood is very much an industry town. Your life becomes caught up in all of the parties and this list and that list. That's not something that I respond well to.
