I know Téa Leoni doesn’t get too much interest around here, but I like to talk about her and I like to read her interviews. She has a good head on her shoulders, she has thoughtful things to say, and she’s not looking for fame and admiration like so many other celebrities. The last time we covered an interview with Téa she revealed that she loves to fly fish and fry up what she catches. We also heard that she’s dating her onscreen husband, Tim Daly.

Téa, 49, covers the March issue of More Magazine. The editorial is beautiful and looks like an ad for a luxury brand. Téa is promoting Madam Secretary, which returns March 1 to CBS to finish its first season and has already been renewed for second. As you know, Téa’s divorce from David Duchovny was finalized last year. They have two children, Madelaine, 15, and Kyd, 12. Téa. Téa admits that things got messy in her marriage, but she doesn’t get into details and she maintains that she loves David. Téa got candid with More about her career, children and her grounded outlook on life. As usual, this was a joy to read:

On misogyny and ageism in Hollywood:
[Brett] Ratner (her director on the 2000 film The Family Man)—whom I really like, by the way—was going around telling people that despite my age, I was ‘still doable.’ I think I was 34 then. And he was something like 28. I asked myself, ‘Do I still care about that?’ And at that time, I did. I felt that pressure to be ‘doable.’ It was the meanest thought I’d had for myself in a long time.

Thankfully, I’ve moved past all that. Chasing youth is a war I’m not going to win. It’s not like I’m thrilled to turn around and catch my can in the mirror, but I can see now how much of my happiness could be a victim of trying to stay young and desirable. And it feels like peace and victory to be relieved of that burden.

On her early career:
I had one long thread of shitty advice throughout my career, which was, ‘You have to do this in order to do that.’ So I did some projects that were lacking. I was ‘the chick of the flick.’

On her industry reputation as a “Pass-a-dena”:
For every project I do, there are a lot I don’t. People have asked if I’m lazy. In a way it’s flattering. But the truth is, if you’re going to pull me away from my children, I need to have some connection to the work.”

On what’s more important to her than an Oscar:
People tell me I’ve never really made it. They say, ‘You don’t have an Oscar.’ There’s not an accolade in Hollywood that could replace time with my kids. At this stage of my life, it’s not about contentment. Or appealing to 20-year-olds. Or awards. It’s about finding something more. As I tell my daughter, ‘Hear your voice first.’

On living in the now
Now when the kids walk in, I’m listening to them and just loving them. I’m getting much better at noticing that life is good. That everything passes. I tell my children that. Think about the now, not the then or later. That’s the art.

On her ex, David Duchovny
On occasion, I want to throttle him. But in any real relationship with someone you love, that’s true.

[From More Magazine, received via email]

Her advice is simple and yet poignant: don’t chase fame or youth, live in the moment and be present with the people in your life. I didn’t realize that actors judged each other by their awards, but I guess there are judgmental people everywhere, and there are even those who will say it to your face. Téa doesn’t care, she’d rather be fishing or hanging out with her kids and she’ll tell you about it. She’ll also tell you about directors being creeps. I bet she has worse stories to tell.

Images credit: ©Rene & Radka/MORE Magazine