Cameron Diaz on Tough Life, Eco-Friendly Shrek

Let's not talk about the new hair on Cameron Diaz for a bit.

Instead, let's focus on the apparently awful couple of years this beauty has had to endure. It doesn't sound like her troubles began with the recent Justin Timberlake break-up, either. The following excerpts are courtesy of movies.com ...

On being in hell:
"The last couple of years were hell. Like, I can't even tell you, it was so hard. I didn't know how to handle it. But I think I'm in a much better place now, because I stepped away for a second and took a breath. Hollywood is a funny place. It offers so much, but it can also take a lot away from you."

On pretty prejudice:
"If a woman who's a successful actress weighs 300 pounds and has warts, nobody ever asks her, 'Do you think you made it because you're ugly?' So why should there be prejudice against someone who's had some success in films and looks a little better than average. It's all in my genes, so don't hold it against me."

* The Hollywood Gossip note: Based on this quote, and a similar one made by Jessica Biel, we hope gorgeous women asking for sympathy doesn't become a trend.

On her trips to Hawaii:
"I was just there doing a lot of surfing [with Kelly Slater]. I love it. It's definitely a spiritual experience, the closest you can get to Mother Nature, which is God to me. You get to ride all this energy that's traveled across the ocean for thousands of miles, and you get to usher this distant traveler to its destination on the shore."

On the secret to being a good ogre wife:
"I felt strongly that I didn't want Fiona to come off as naggy. I hate naggy."

On bringing her eco-conscious views to Shrek:
"For the next Shrek, I'd like to create the ideal kingdom of Far Far Away, where there would be no carbon emissions … work an eco-friendly message into the story. Maybe the swamp could be in danger from an environmental disaster or something."