about Catherine's relationship with Gil Grissom: I doubt it will be any kind of an intimate relationship. We always will have some closeness, but I think we have just a marriage of the minds, the two of us, and he's great to work with (William Petersen). A bit of yin and yang in that relationship, for sure."

About Madonna: Life will always be good as long as Madonna is around. I don't think of her as a guilty pleasure anymore - she's an outright pleasure" (In Style magazine, Sept/2006).

We had a murder taking place at a foam party...which once again made me feel so old...So often I'm like, 'What the hell's that?'

Before Hugh was 5, I could take him to work with me. Now, though, he has sports and lessons and friends, and it's not fair to remove him from his whole life.

By the time May rolls around, I'm probably going to want to spend a month on an island. But if Steven Spielberg or Steven Soderbergh or any number of directors were to say 'Hey, there's this role, are you interested?' I'd be there in a flash.

I didn't work on the killing floor. I worked in the section where you break the meat down and package it.

I just cleared the slate and thought of her as a mother and went from there.

I miss his calmness. I sort of went through this chubby phase thinking, 'Eeeeough, I'm so ugly.' And he would always say, 'You just wait. Your cheekbones will come in.'

I spent three intense years with those people. We still get together, but it's time to move on and spend time with my baby.

I'll give the producers a heads-up-'Parent-teacher conference, I need the afternoon off'-and most of the time they're accommodating.

I'm Catholic, he's Jewish, and it was just easier to elope.

If I was working hard, she bled into my personality. I became more cynical.

It's tough enough trying to work a day shift and figure out the babysitter situation.

One of the jobs I had was cutting out the blood clots on a side of beef.

Women loved that part 'cause K.C. was just sassy

When I think of home. I think of fishing with my dad. We'd go to a sandpit loaded with bluegill and bullheads.

on her character being drugged and abducted: I thought that was an interesting idea, to have a criminalist – someone who’s always watching her back and always hip to suspicious behavior – have that happen to her.

during the introduction to the 2007 SAG awards: Some of my most cherished moments in this business have been conversations that I’ve had with my fellow actors on the set between takes. These conversations can happen anywhere, sometimes, sitting on a bed, in a skanky fictitious motel room. In fact, that’s how I met my husband, president of the Screen Actors Guild. I’m Marg Helgenberger and I’m an actor.

on what she’ll miss when she’s done on CSI: I’ve always liked shooting in Vegas, it’s such a character. It’s so visually stimulating.

on her hair at the 2001 TVGuide Awards: I had pink hair! I don't know. You know what? That shade was known as 'PMS Pink.' I was totally PMS-ing that day - I was crazy! What did I think, I was gonna get away with pink hair on CSI?

I either play cops or criminals - I'm either on the right side of the law or the wrong side. I gravitate toward edgier material because it suits my nature. I find it fascinating to play. I'm just that kind of person.

on fame: We were in Paris this last summer and we were at the Musée d'Orsay, and it just always freaks me out when people stop you and wanna take your picture as opposed to looking at a Van Gogh, or something.

on her CSI versus the two spin-offs: I always love it when people say [assumes self-important mock voice] ‘It's the only one we watch, none of them can compare to you guys, blah blah blah’.

on filming the squeamish scenes on CSI: I'm relatively squeamish in civilian life. I've been very fortunate not to have to deal with such things in my immediate family. When we're filming autopsy scenes, I actually feel sad. Behind each of these death's there's usually a back story of unhappiness and loss. We use a guidebook the Las Vegas police put together that's incredibly graphic. Looking at the pictures can make me turn white. If I'm going over the script at home, my husband will ask, 'Are you all right?'

on wanting romance for her character: I keep telling the producers I'd love to have a relationship. We do a lot of cerebral work on the show playing opposite a swab or a computer screen. I'd much rather play opposite someone like Gary Dourdan - he's not bad at all! It would be great because it would give my character the opportunity to show a few more colors - her passionate side, or intimate side or vulnerable side.

on a street being named after her in her home town of North Bend, Indiana: They wanted to honor me by naming a street after me, Helgenberger Avenue. It was on the corner that I grew up. I was able to tour the home in which I grew up. It was right across the street from the public swimming pool where I was a lifeguard swim instructor.

on whether Gil and Catherine will ever get together: I doubt it will be any kind of an intimate relationship. We always will have some closeness, but I think we have just a marriage of the minds, the two of us, and he's great to work with. A bit of yin and yang in that relationship, for sure.

on co-star William Petersen Billy is very enigmatic. One day you think you know him, then the next day you realize you don't.

I'm more willing to sit back and let things come to me, but this business is too competitive, and one has got to be more aggressive and go for things. Those are the ones that succeed.

When I think of home, I think of fishing with my dad.

•

Alan Rosenberg: (on seeing Marg for the first time) I thought she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. And really talented.

Jorja Fox: (on Marg on-set filming the squeamish scenes) Marg is one of the strongest and toughest women I've ever met.

Billy Petersen: (talking about Marg) She's got just the right blend of hormones.

Dana Delany: talking about Marg) She has a kinda punk thing to her, a rock n roll edge. But she's really a family girl.