Jessica Alba is hunting back at the start off of her film profession. During a new interview with People today published on Thursday, June 13, the 43-year-old actress detailed the issues she faced when she was beginning out as an actress. While recalling the strain of finances when she was younger, Jessica noted that this “puts you on your back foot.”

“You’re not always taking the roles that are the best,” the Trigger Warning star explained. “You’re just taking roles to survive, which teaches grit and perseverance, but I do wish I would’ve had the skill set and the wherewithal to write and to know about writing and directing and producing earlier in my career.”

Now that she serves as an executive producer on her new Special Forces-themed film, which premieres on Netflix on Friday, June 21, Jessica remembered initially feeling grateful for booking a part at the start off of her profession but feeling “desperation” to get by financially.

“You’re just so happy to be there and it’s like, ‘Did the check clear?’ ” she mentioned. “And there’s a desperation like, ‘Please God, I need this job. … If they do want to be a performer, then being able to be a producer and a writer, or a director. I think having that leadership role is really important to the art and be part of the art in a way where they feel like they can have more autonomy and there’s more dignity.”

Now as a mom to daughters Honor and Haven and son Hayes — whom she shares with husband Cash Warren — the Dark Angel alum opened up about how she’d really feel if any of her kids pursued a profession in showbiz.

“The thing is, I think if you tell your kid anything, they’re going to do the opposite, right?” Jessica pointed out. “So, I try not to have too strong opinions one way or another.”

Jessica started auditioning when she was 11 years old, landing industrial gigs and roles in various independent films. Eventually, she got her major break in the James Cameron-made series Dark Angel. Shortly thereafter, Jessica booked film jobs across several genres and went on to marry her husband in 2008.