Ginnifer Goodwin, Born: 22 May 1978, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

I have very curly hair and I straighten it every day - it takes maybe two minutes. I can't imagine a...Show more »

I have very curly hair and I straighten it every day - it takes maybe two minutes. I can't imagine anyone having a bigger challenge than I do in the kinkiness that is my crazy 'fro.' Show less «

I perpetuate rumors that I've dated people that I've never actually dated.

Everything goes with short hair. It's bananas.

I hardly ever work out.

People always say a script will be 'brought to life in a magical way,' but for me that has been prov...Show more »

People always say a script will be 'brought to life in a magical way,' but for me that has been proven wrong time and time again. Show less «

At 9 years old I weighed about 10 lbs. less than what my weight is at 32. I needed to get help.

Costume designers don't care about trends. They appreciate, above so many other qualities, that tail...Show more »

Costume designers don't care about trends. They appreciate, above so many other qualities, that tailoring is everything, which is a mantra for the way I dress. Ladies: The most important thing in clothing is to find a good, inexpensive tailor, because clothes at the stores are made for bodies that are anomalies. Show less «

But I love being scared. I think you're brave only when you do things that scare you. I've always us...Show more »

But I love being scared. I think you're brave only when you do things that scare you. I've always used fear as a motivator. I'm not sure why. Show less «

I express myself through clothes, but clothes don't define me.

After spending time with the rescued turkeys at Farm Sanctuary's shelter and seeing how similar they...Show more »

After spending time with the rescued turkeys at Farm Sanctuary's shelter and seeing how similar they are to my furry companion animals at home, I knew I needed to do everything in my power to protect these friendly and curious birds from the daily pain and suffering they endure on factory farms. Show less «

I really am super lazy and doing long hair, especially mine, is a big pain in the butt. It's filled ...Show more »

I really am super lazy and doing long hair, especially mine, is a big pain in the butt. It's filled with cowlicks and kinks and curls and frizz - and it was taking too much time in the morning. Show less «

It took me realizing that a broken heart has never actually killed anyone to find the courage to ask...Show more »

It took me realizing that a broken heart has never actually killed anyone to find the courage to ask for what I want, in just about every situation. That was part of my own growing up. Show less «

It's like, if you can't focus on a movie for 90 minutes without looking at your phone, then don't go...Show more »

It's like, if you can't focus on a movie for 90 minutes without looking at your phone, then don't go to the movies! You've got some issues, so you should probably stay home and work on those issues, and not distract everyone with lights, and sounds, oh my gosh, the tapping on the screens, it makes me crazy! Show less «

Growing up in Memphis, I have always admired St. Jude's for the magnificent work they do.

I'm for all the actor's struggle, the self-indulgent, painful journey, but I would rather have fun.

I want to work endlessly and tirelessly until I'm an old, old lady.

I'm a better person in a relationship, and I'm a happier person. I need to come home at the end of t...Show more »

I'm a better person in a relationship, and I'm a happier person. I need to come home at the end of the day and have it not be about me and my freaking hair and makeup and character motivations anymore. And I think my work is more inspired when home is safe and sound and solid, because what I do for a living is so bananas and so insecure. Show less «

The costumes are insane on 'Once Upon a Time.' It did influence my taking the job, the fact that not...Show more »

The costumes are insane on 'Once Upon a Time.' It did influence my taking the job, the fact that not only would I be horseback riding and sword fighting and traipsing through the woods but I would be doing all those things in insane, medieval garb. Show less «

One night I'd had some beers, and then I Googled myself and spent the night in tears.

But often times, I feel like I'm so blessed, it's not fair. That what I'm doing is not contributing ...Show more »

But often times, I feel like I'm so blessed, it's not fair. That what I'm doing is not contributing to the good of the world. Show less «

You know, one of my biggest dreams in life is to play a Disney princess.

Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I always go all-out with my costumes.

I only wear heels when a stylist puts me in them.

I made some friends at Listerine and they taught me a little bit about oral care. That half of adult...Show more »

I made some friends at Listerine and they taught me a little bit about oral care. That half of adults suffer from oral disease, that the number one chronic disease among children is oral disease, that we're only taking care of 25% of our mouths when brushing alone and there are more germs in your mouth than there are people on the planet. Show less «

I'm so an all-or-nothing person in dating, always. I'm big on not wasting time. And so, yeah, if som...Show more »

I'm so an all-or-nothing person in dating, always. I'm big on not wasting time. And so, yeah, if something's not working, it's time to not hold people back. Show less «

Oh my gosh, I'd give so much advice to a younger version of myself. I would say it really does get b...Show more »

Oh my gosh, I'd give so much advice to a younger version of myself. I would say it really does get better as you get older. The things that mean so much, the things that seem like, you know, it's going to cause the end of the world, are all things that I've already forgotten. Show less «

They say men and women can't be friends, but that's not true.

Unfortunately, as obsessed as I am with all of those Grimm's slash Disney princesses, I do think wom...Show more »

Unfortunately, as obsessed as I am with all of those Grimm's slash Disney princesses, I do think women have evolved socially in so many ways. Show less «

I will end up with someone in the arts. I am positive. I eat, breathe and sleep acting. And I'll end...Show more »

I will end up with someone in the arts. I am positive. I eat, breathe and sleep acting. And I'll end up with someone who is happy staying at home and having me cook supper. But I also really need to be intellectually challenged and stimulated. I want someone bookish, and someone who is passionate. Show less «

I'm insanely girly. I like having the door opened for me. I want to cook dinner for my boyfriend. An...Show more »

I'm insanely girly. I like having the door opened for me. I want to cook dinner for my boyfriend. And I can't wait to have babies. Show less «

I started reading and learned that we don't need any of it - meat, dairy products. We get everything...Show more »

I started reading and learned that we don't need any of it - meat, dairy products. We get everything we need without those things - except maybe B12, but there's this whole controversy that maybe we're only getting B12 because the animals are being fed B12 supplements. Show less «

I'm a Southern lady that almost never leaves the house without makeup on.

Oh my gosh, I feel like I'm really obsessive about anything dealing with my health.

I've never had body issues, I've never had an eating disorder. I've never had to go on a diet and th...Show more »

I've never had body issues, I've never had an eating disorder. I've never had to go on a diet and that's because of Weight Watchers. Show less «

A lot of times, I think that what I do for a living has no integrity. 'Once Upon A Time' has changed...Show more »

A lot of times, I think that what I do for a living has no integrity. 'Once Upon A Time' has changed that to a certain extent because the reaction we get from children out in the world is so fulfilling, I cannot even articulate it. There's nothing like being greeted as Snow White by a hyperventilating child versus Ginnifer Goodwin. Show less «

Couldn't start the morning without caffeine.

I know now that there are men out there who are, for me, the whole package, who are supportive of my...Show more »

I know now that there are men out there who are, for me, the whole package, who are supportive of my successes because they know I will be just as supportive of theirs. I'm less tolerant of foolishness now; I know that it's important I not tie myself up with the wrong person, because then I will miss the right person coming along. Show less «

I come from theater, and doing period stuff is so whimsical and imaginative and so outside any frame...Show more »

I come from theater, and doing period stuff is so whimsical and imaginative and so outside any frame of reference than I have ever had so I prefer that just in terms of fun factor. Show less «

I don't know why anyone would want to ask an actor for dating advice. We are not the poster children...Show more »

I don't know why anyone would want to ask an actor for dating advice. We are not the poster children for healthy relationships. Show less «

I can safely say that other than macaroni and cheese, there's no processed food in my life. There's ...Show more »

I can safely say that other than macaroni and cheese, there's no processed food in my life. There's no inorganic food in my life these days. There's no junk food. There's not a lot of sugar. There's no soy. I mean, really everything that's going into my body is pretty pure. Show less «

I understand why society, especially American society, is gravitating toward fairy tales, given our ...Show more »

I understand why society, especially American society, is gravitating toward fairy tales, given our economy. We've been exploring the world of witches and wizards for years. We've been exploring the world of vampires for years. Clearly the public - I mean, I feel like all of this was ushered in by 'Harry Potter' - in my own fannish beliefs. Show less «

[on re-embracing her faith as an adult] I was Jewish by birth... I was Super Jew, and then I up and ...Show more »

[on re-embracing her faith as an adult] I was Jewish by birth... I was Super Jew, and then I up and left Judaism for a very long time. I flew from Memphis... and I flew from my faith. I walked out of Judaism. I had broken my covenant. The only thing Jewish about me was that I felt guilty... For 10 years, there was nothing. No ritual. No tradition. No community. I was this new alone thing, a nomad in the world. I was homeless... I lost this, and I've been trying to find it again... I am a Jew... It took me 10 years to come back around to that self-definition. I was a Jew by birth, and now I'm a Jew by choice. Show less «

Nudity is for my boyfriend or my doctor.

I cherish all of the times I've fallen on my face and made mistakes, because those experiences have ...Show more »

I cherish all of the times I've fallen on my face and made mistakes, because those experiences have made me who I am. Show less «

As long as I can wear a wig I can be any character, and in real life I can be myself.

I think of clothes a lot like costumes. I think of what I wear in real life as being my real life ch...Show more »

I think of clothes a lot like costumes. I think of what I wear in real life as being my real life character's costume. Show less «

In real life, people don't try to live dramatically, people try to live in a light way. People try t...Show more »

In real life, people don't try to live dramatically, people try to live in a light way. People try to laugh. Show less «

Oh, my, yes. I was raised in this Southern culture where if a guy was sarcastic, that just meant he ...Show more »

Oh, my, yes. I was raised in this Southern culture where if a guy was sarcastic, that just meant he didn't know how to show his love - but secretly he cared! I completely bought that. The men I chased and the things I put up with - it was criminal. Show less «

My day-to-day wardrobe, I do mix it up. I'll wear something from Target along with something by YSL....Show more »

My day-to-day wardrobe, I do mix it up. I'll wear something from Target along with something by YSL. It's about finding the right items that make you happy. Show less «

I see girls who haven't had a carbohydrate in three years. The second you go back to eating right, y...Show more »

I see girls who haven't had a carbohydrate in three years. The second you go back to eating right, you're going to put that weight on. You eat one piece of bread and you are screwed, lady! Show less «

I'm not nomadic by nature.

I would point out that I'm an actress for a reason! If I were popular in high school, I would have c...Show more »

I would point out that I'm an actress for a reason! If I were popular in high school, I would have considered another career because I wouldn't have been alone in my room, making up other characters for myself. I definitely had growing pains. The popular kids didn't want anything to do with the girl who was starting the drama club. Show less «

I think most people know inherently that good wins.

There's nothing I want less than a piece of cheese or a burger. I have nightmares I'm being force-fe...Show more »

There's nothing I want less than a piece of cheese or a burger. I have nightmares I'm being force-fed these things. I have no interest in converting anyone. It's purely how I want to live my life. I don't judge anyone. Show less «

With the counseling of my family doctor, my mother ended up turning to Weight Watchers and their chi...Show more »

With the counseling of my family doctor, my mother ended up turning to Weight Watchers and their children's program. I went to weekly meetings, got counseling and would exercise with my peers who were my size. It was the first time I saw a proper children's portion size, and it wasn't two burgers, it was one. Show less «

Sometimes I make very selfish choices; like I did 'Once Upon A Time' for my inner 8-year-old and my ...Show more »

Sometimes I make very selfish choices; like I did 'Once Upon A Time' for my inner 8-year-old and my hypothetical future child. I've done some movies because I would regret them if I didn't, but other projects I've done because they've scared me or if I felt I needed to do a big romantic comedy to help me professionally. Show less «

Romcoms are challenging, but I'm hungry for drama.

I love Valentine's Day! I love it, I love it, I love it. I like having doors opened for me. My favor...Show more »

I love Valentine's Day! I love it, I love it, I love it. I like having doors opened for me. My favorite romantic comedy is When Harry Met Sally... (1989). Show less «

I am much more open to plural marriage than I was before, and I now support it in certain situations...Show more »

I am much more open to plural marriage than I was before, and I now support it in certain situations. I do believe it is right for some people. But our example in America today is gross abuse - I can't support it in fundamentalist compounds. Show less «

I've always been sort of addicted to genre-jumping. I've never been in the mood to do the same thing...Show more »

I've always been sort of addicted to genre-jumping. I've never been in the mood to do the same thing I did last time. Hence, me going from 'Big Love' to romantic comedy, to period film... I can't sit still. Show less «

Why do only boys get to chase? Nuh-uh! If anything, I think this whole sitting back and waiting thin...Show more »

Why do only boys get to chase? Nuh-uh! If anything, I think this whole sitting back and waiting thing can be self-sabotaging. We have to send up flares. We have to let guys know we're open for business. Show less «

When I'm doing a film, I love getting together after work with my costars. But we get back to L.A. a...Show more »

When I'm doing a film, I love getting together after work with my costars. But we get back to L.A. and I'm like, 'I don't want to go to a club with you, dude. I mean, I think you're rad, and if you want to come play Scrabble with me, that's amazing.' Show less «