Annette Bening has been acting professionally for four decades. In that time she has earned two Tony nominations—one for each of her Broadway appearances—four Oscar nominations, and an Emmy nomination. While she has largely been absent from the New York stage since her Broadway debut in 1987’s Coastal Disturbances, the theatre sparked her zest for acting.

“One of the shows that most impacted me, when I was in junior high I saw Two Gentlemen of Verona at the Globe Theatre and it was such a great production,” she says in the video above. “They had everyone dressed up—it was set in the 18th century... all of the props were played by people. So if there was a painting it would be a guy standing there. So all of us, all the kids, just fell in love with it.”

READ: All My Sons’ Annette Bening Says There Are Clues to Her Character Hidden in the Broadway Set

Now, she plays Kate Keller in the American classic All My Sons by Arthur Miller. Though her star turn bowls audiences over, Bening feels the play is an ensemble piece. “It’s a story told by all of us together. We have the most incredible relationships with each other.

“Our director Jack O’Brien was terrific in helping us to establish our mutual support, which we have and we're out there together and it’s really a joy to do such a beautiful play.”

Bening also remembered the very first play she did and more in the video above.

Videography and editing by Roberto Araujo.