Two and a Half Men's Holland Taylor

Q: You once said that you "blew" your middle years; that you "did not make very good use" of your life. What did you mean by that?

A: I meant, literally, that I was preoccupied with empty things. I was so focused on acting that I was not a fully engaged person. I can think of any number of actors I know who have big, huge lives. The most famous one, I think, is Meryl Streep. I think I've even heard her say that for her, her focus and her heart is in her family, and as big as her career is, her life is bigger. Her career is inside her life. That's the model.

Q: Do you regret not having children?

A: Oh, my God, yes. I regret not having that big life that I think is what we're here to do. There are people who have tremendously rich lives who don't have a big family life, but are much more creative in their life than I was. I had this narrow focus. I didn't have a variety of things I applied myself to.

Q: Did you figure out how to fix it?

A: I made my life richer by recognizing the lack. I had gotten into a lazy habit of not aggressively pursuing activities, friends and involvement in life. The recognition was the first step. I got involved in a number of things, including the Stella Adler schools, and a play I've been writing and producing. I spent more time out and about with friends, and as recently as 2003 or 2004, I went back to school. I went to the University of Santa Monica and took a degree in spiritual psychology. That really pushed me up against the glass. I really had to come to know myself, and once you know yourself, then you can have a conversation with yourself about how you want to proceed.