When asked to specify her favorite film role, she responded "Bull Durham," explaining that the film came at a time when she wasn't being offered good roles. She thanked Ron Shelton, the director, for restoring her faith in the business.

The actor was not as quick to name her favorite director. "Well, if you expect me to go home...," Sarandon humorously replied, alluding to Tim Robbins, the director of "Dead Man Walking" and the father of her two sons.

While the characters she plays are often described as strong women, Sarandon herself sees them as ordinary people "who become extraordinary at a certain point.... They become strong at great cost."

Sarandon said that she felt that she had gained from her difficult experiences, citing ordeals such as bad romances and a brief institutionalization. "As Hemingway said, 'You're strong in all the broken places,'" she quoted.

Although Sarandon is known for her outspoken political beliefs, politics were hardly mentioned in the press conference. At one point, however, in the middle of a question about issues in the upcoming presidential election, Sarandon broke in, "I'd be surprised if any issues did come up."

Sarandon did discuss questions surrounding violence in the movies, saying that "Thelma and Louise" portrayed violence with moral justification, which is unusual in movies. She also contended that some viewers found the movie upsetting "because it gave women violence as an option."

Sarandon was nominated for her first Oscar for "Atlantic City." She has received three Best Actress nominations in the past four years, for "The Client," "Lorenzo's Oil" and "Thelma and Louise." She has also been mentioned as a possible Best Actress nominee this year for her work in "Dead Man Walking." Those nominations will be announced today