I always was drawn to the performing arts. I started dancing when I was two. I sang loved to act and loved going to visit my mom on-set. But she wanted me to have a normal childhood so I wasn't really allowed to pursue acting till I got older.

Sure my childhood was unusual. All these eccentric wild people frequented our home: rock stars drag queens models bikers freaks. But I was not this little rich girl. My mom and I lived in an apartment.

Mom was the greatest influence of my childhood. She wanted to save me from the vice lust and drinking that was all about me.

My mom died when I was 16. I had a rough childhood you know what I mean but it made me strong.

I used to have a theory actually that if you've had a good childhood a good marriage and a little bit of money in the bank you're going to make a lousy comedian.

We all have a childhood dream that when there is love everything goes like silk but the reality is that marriage requires a lot of compromise.

Do not miss your children's childhood. Do not be away 200 nights a year as I was. Do not put strains on your marriage or family.

What makes this story so remarkable is that throughout my early childhood I had ongoing learning difficulties particularly in mathematics. I struggled to learn the multiplication table and no matter how hard I tried I simply couldn't remember 6 times 7 or 7 times 8.

I get stubborn and dig in when people tell me I can't do something and I think I can. It goes back to my childhood when I had problems in school because I have a learning disability.

All the time a person is a child he is both a child and learning to be a parent. After he becomes a parent he becomes predominantly a parent reliving childhood.

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.

Some of the companies we helped start are names you know. An office supply company called Staples - where I'm pleased to see the Obama campaign has been shopping The Sports Authority which became a favorite of my sons. We started an early childhood learning center called Bright Horizons that First Lady Michelle Obama rightly praised.

It's the continuation of everyone's childhood to see these young children who grow up full of life full of intelligence full of a sense of wonder. And within an instant they're gone from this world. It's terrible.

Because of my faith and my imagination I was able to enjoy my childhood even though it was tough.

I had this wild imagination. I was never me. All my childhood photos I'm in fancy dress playing a Russian refuge or Marvelous Mad Madam Mim.

Writing gives me the opportunity to explore ideas play with language solve problems use my imagination and draw on my own childhood.

A place makes a deep impression on you when you're young. It lives with you. It's like your childhood. It fertilises the imagination.