Melissa Gilbert

We take pride in each other - we were meant to be together.

Thank God I have four sons. The mother/daughter relationship is one of mankind's great mysteries, and for womankind, it can be hellaciously complicated. My mother and I are quintessential examples of the rewards and frustrations, and the joys and infuriations it can yield. Show less «

[About Little House on the Prairie (1974)]: Not a day goes by that I don't think about it and burst into tears. It's like stepping through a looking glass. There's a part of me that's always going to be Laura. I think every girl has a Laura in them. Show less «

It reminds people of what we as humans and Americans are capable of if we do it together. We tend to live in bubbles. ... There is very little real sense of community anymore. This show reminds people of that. Show less «

[on comparing her co-star's, Karen Grassle's, "Caroline Ingalls" character to her own]: Karen's "Ma" always reminded me of Grace Kelly. My Ma's a little more feisty, a little more earthy, I'm a redhead. So is Ma in this show. So there's some fire under those petticoats. Show less «

[on what it's like to be famous]: For months you've referred to me as your hero, but it's easy to be brave when I have you to come home to, and hide behind, and hold on to. I wish you the happiest birthday ever... . Let's eat! Show less «

[on her own journey]: I saw an opportunity at a time in my career when, like many female actors my age, opportunities are drying up left and right. So for me to have a chance to do something new and create a new facet to my career at 45 is a blessing I just couldn't ignore. Show less «

[on her on- and off-screen chemistry with Michael Landon, who played Charles Ingalls]: He was very much like a 'second father' to me. My own father passed away when I was 11, so, without really officially announcing it, Michael really stepped in. Show less «

[Of Michael Landon]: I wanted him to be my father substitute. I loved that man and I loved the way I always felt safe, crying with him. Now, granted, it was on film. But generally, I was crying about what was going on with me for real when I was with him. And he was always there to hold me. That's the only time I let that stuff out. So, he was there in most of these scenes, comforting me. It was sort of a father/daughter relationship in my eyes. Show less «

Women in their twenties are beautiful. But women in their forties? There's something magical there.

[Who talked about listening to Michael Landon, about the kind of advice he gave her, when working with him]: He gave me so much advice that it's kinda hard to cherry-pick 1 special sentence of any kind, but, the overall idea that he pounded into me, from a little girl, into my brain was that nothing's more important than 'Home & Family;' no success, no career, no achievements, no accomplishments, nothing's more important than loving the people you love and contributing to a community. Though we were working, really, really hard, we were 'Not Saving The World,' one episode of television at a time, we're just entertaining people and there are more important things to do and contributing to be an idiocy and to be a part of that. Those were the overarchy lessons and stuff and there was the professional and have fun; no matter what. There's no reason; well, on 'Little House,' we didn't work long hours; but since then, there's no reason to work 14-16 hr. days in extreme weather outside; for hours and hours and hours, shooting something if it's not going to be fun. Show less «