Mayim Bialik

Mayim: (on not being considered beautiful while filming "Blossom") They told me that my face looked like a shield, and that I had a series of mismatched features. It was very hurtful. I'm almost 30 years old, and I've never forgotten the exact words.

Mayim: (her advice for today's young stars) Do as much learning and living outside of the industry as possible. Help those in need and volunteer as a person, not a celebrity. Studying something of value can also be very empowering and helpful.

Mayim: I come from an immigrant family, where going to college is one of the most important things you can do, so I always wanted to go to college. I was two years out of high school when Blossom ended, so I was ready. Also, to be on a sitcom in 1994 was not a popular way to have an acting career. Offers for movie and stage roles didn't come pouring out. So, unless I wanted to do another sitcom, I needed to take a break.

Mayim: (in 2009, when asked if her children watch "Blossom") They don't watch TV at all, so it will be a long time before that happens. [My oldest son] Miles has no idea that I was on TV. He thinks that every mama has a doll made of her!

Mayim: (on her breakout TV role) I have the Blossom doll, which my oldest son plays with. He calls it the Mama Doll. What he doesn't know is that Mama used to be an actor!

Mayim: (when asked if she stays in touch with her "Blossom" co-stars) Not really. We were all young when the show ended, and we went our separate ways. But of course, everyone I knew called me when Joey Lawrence was on Dancing With the Stars!

Mayim: Hollywood is a hard world for grown-ups, so it's a really hard world for a kid. Rejection was rough. It still is. I'm working overtime as a mom right now, but I would love to do another sitcom eventually. I'm interested to see if I'm the kind of child star who can make it as an adult.

Mayim: It sure was hard to break out of the 'Blossom' persona with my audience, but I THINK I have finally done so. People are actually starting to call me Mayim, instead of 'Blossom', but they STILL ask me where Joey is, like I know.

Mayim: Giving birth to my son was a beautiful experience. The pain was forgotten as soon as I held him up and looked into his eyes, I never wanted our first encounter to end.

Mayim: Exercise is fun for me, It keeps me healthy and feeling good. I think sports are really important for kids, it keeps them happy and healthy.

Mayim: I know a lot of people that think they are overweight when they really aren't. Sometimes we get a distorted picture of what is beautiful, a lot of times it's a thin body, but some people can't and shouldn't achieve that.

Mayim: I consider myself a spiritual person, I'm a real thinker. I think answers to life are simple-just enjoy it as much as possible.

Mayim: When I was in Ballet, I learned to stand up straight and keep my tummy tucked in. It was a real way of life. It made me see how important it is to have patience and tolerance when it comes to staying in shape.