Daughter of John and granddaughter of Walter, Anjelica Huston was born into a successful Hollywood family. But her acting fame was hard won. She claimed a best actress Oscar in 1986, starring in her father's film "Prizzi's Honor". Other stand-out roles include "The Grifters", "Enemies: A Love Story", "The Addams Family", and "The Royal Tenenbaums". Now she's down with the kids in "Daddy Day Care".

Your character, Miss Harridan, runs a very tight ship for her young charges. Does this echo your own schooldays at all?
I hate to admit it, but there are certain similarities. I had one nanny who made me sit in front of a bowl of porridge for three or four days running when I refused to eat it. I remember being very unhappy about that. Some of that may have found its way into Miss Harridan. She's not a wicked character, though, just a little strict and kind of humourless.

What appeals to you in a role?
I like it when it has layers, when you can see what the story is of this person. I like it when you read a script and there's the part that you show to the other characters and then there's the part that only the audience knows. I like it when you can show things about your character that maybe no one else in the film sees, where it's like a secret between you and the audience.

Did winning an Oscar for "Prizzi's Honor" relatively early in your career become a help or a hindrance?
Actually it wasn't that early in my career. It was early in my recognition, I guess, but I was actually in my mid 30s when I got the Oscar. And yeah, it does kind of spoil you in terms of the kind of stuff you look for, because Maerose Prizzi comes around very rarely. I always think it's ridiculous that we should all be pitted against each other for different roles, it never makes any sense, although it is lovely to be singled out in that way. I've certainly had some very good roles since, and in a way some have been more challenging. Lilly Dillon in "The Grifters", I would say, was just as good and probably more challenging than Maerose.