Toni Collette has been a huge influence. She was my absolute number one idol, and then I got 'United States of Tara.' I was pinching myself. I couldn't believe the first day I was on set, and I got pages of dialogue of real stuff to do with her.

Any time I was at Trader Joes, and the person bagging my stuff would be like, 'Did I go to college with you? How do I know you?' Then it took awhile, and suddenly people were like, 'Oh, you are the girl from 'United States of Tara.'

Wilkinson had a lot of high-powered influence in the United States, Spain and France. Wilkinson commissioned Pike, but what were his motives? He had already sent men into New Orleans and Texas (still under Spanish control) on filibusters or spying missions. He was making contact with Spanish viceroys and selling information to Spain (U.S. military arrangements for $12,000).

Bowie's been a huge influence on me.

The United States is a superpower whose influence reaches across oceans and beyond borders.

My father was a huge influence on me.