On choosing her family over her career: "I got — knock on wood — very lucky. But I did choose. I took a chunk of time off. If it were up to [Ashton], we would have had kids much sooner. But I had contracts for films I had to do. I was like, 'Let me finish this last thing, Jupiter Ascending, and we’re a go. I’m going to take a solid break from acting.' And let me tell you, when I would get a call with an offer, I wouldn’t even flinch. I was like, 'No, I’m pregnant.' 'No, I have a baby.' I wasn’t ready to go back. I was so happy saying no that I knew it was the right decision."
On how she got the best of both worlds: "As an actor, you travel so much. It isn’t great for a marriage. In a marriage, you and your partner come first. And unless you and your partner are happy, that kid’s never going to be happy. I ultimately started my production company, so I have a 9-to-5. I can’t not work. I don’t know what it’s like to not work; my family embedded that in me."
On how her parents inspired her strong work ethic: "My parents went through hell and back. They came to America with suitcases and a family of seven and $250, and that’s it. My parents, for years, worked full-time and went to college full-time. They would go to night school to learn English. Ultimately, my dad owned cabs, and my mom worked her way up to manager of a Rite-Aid; they bought a car and a condo. But growing up poor, I never missed out on anything. My parents did a beautiful job of not making me feel like I was lesser than any other kids."
On what no one told her about parenting: "Children are f*cking crazy. They’re also suicidal. Like, at the park, certain jungle gyms have an opening for older kids to jump out of. She’s 19 months; she can’t jump. She just walks off it as if she’s on a pirate ship. Another important thing to learn is that kids have a personality that has nothing to do with you. I have a really sweet daughter. She wants to hug all the other kids. I didn’t teach her to be sweet. It has nothing to do with me. I’ve realized you can control only so much."