When I graduated from high school, I had artistic and academic scholarships, and I was trying to figure out what to do. I decided to audition for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Juillard and the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney, Australia. As it happened, the National Institute's were the first auditions because their seasons are the opposite of ours. I phoned them and said, 'What is required?' and I remember this very, very taciturn secretary said, 'Well, darling, basically you gotta be able to breathe and speak and be believable.' And I thought to myself, Faaaantastic! I happened to get in, and there's about 3,000 people who audition and they accept between 12 and 15 and I was their first Canadian. So I decided to not look a gift horse in the mouth.

About her role in Crash (1996): Shifted me as an individual? I was almost more inspired as an individual than as an actor.

I'm not investigated as much as I get to investigate other people.

I actually love auditioning because I usually don't get the part. I've tested with Daniel Day-Lewis, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Tom Cruise. So I've gotten to that point, and I understand when I don't get it. There are a lot of very talented people out there.