-- In what ways do you think The L Word has changed the lives of lesbians?

Well, I think it's tremendous because lesbians get to see themselves reflected in the mass media and America gets to see them too. And also the world. Everyone gets to see that we're just people. We have our own problems, we're not perfect. We’re flawed just like everyone else.

Yet we're also really good people. Just like anyone in the straight world, we're all trying to do the best we can. We go through the same dramas and problems in life. Of course, since The L Word is meant to be entertainment, it's set up like a soap opera. Something awful happens every episode because that's the nature of the genre, the form.

But it's also really great all the characters are so gorgeous. It's nice to see, because there's the stereotype that lesbians are all big fat, hairy, ugly people. (laughs) So I love how everybody's gorgeous on that show. I love their clothes, I love their make-up.

-- I realize that you’ve come out...

I guess I have. I don't remember, but I know I have!

-- Have you ever been closeted?

Yes, oh yes. And absolutely NO going back for me! (laughs) I first came out when I was 21, but I didn't tell my family till I was about 32. So there was about a decade, about ten years that I didn't tell my family, and that was hard.

-- During those ten years, were you working?

Not really. I mean, I was in theater and doing a little bit of television, but nobody cared if I was gay. It didn't really matter and I wasn't really closeted. I went to bars and I had relationships, but my family didn't know. They live in Chicago and I’ve been here in LA.

I told them when I was 32 and, it turns out, they couldn’t care less. They were like, "Oh, who cares!" (laughs) If I had told them ten years earlier it might have been a different story, but anyway, I had finally said something and it was no big deal. We all hugged and went on with our lives. (laughs)

-- Do you think that the fact you are out has had any consequences on your career?

No. No, I've been very lucky and I have the people who came before me to thank for that. First of all, I'm a character actress. I'm not a star. My name is never on the title and so most people don't care.

But, also, people like Ellen DeGeneres (host of the 2007 Oscars) and Rosie O'Donnell came out publicly and said, "Hey!" They’re firmly in the mainstream now. It seems like mainstream America has accepted them, which is really great. They took a hit for us; "a hit for the team," as we say.

-- I heard that it's more difficult for actresses to come out than for writers.

Yes, it probably is. People don't care if writers are gay, or producers for that matter. This is a very gay-friendly town, but actors have to engage the public and the American public isn't 100% okay with gay people. I would imagine it would be harder. But I've been very lucky. No one really cares in my case.