Amanda Peet has branded the cut-throat movie industry "ridiculous".

The 54-year-old actress - who is mother to Frances, 19, Molly, 15, and Henry, 11, with her husband David Benioff - has opened up about life in the spotlight and admitted it's a misconception to think Hollywood stars have perfect lives because of their wealth and status - insisting it's all just "smoke and mirrors".

She told Fox News: "It's ridiculous ... It's smoke and mirrors. There's no there there. I mean you name the aphorism, it applies to us.

"It's desperation galore. 'What are they doing over there? Why don't I have that? Why don't I look like that?' That's the bad part."

She went on to add: "In Hollywood, it's hard to - I'm gonna just sound corny. It's competitive, and it's hard to get out of that really sort of competitive mindset where the piece of cheese on the island is too small and there are too many people going after it."

However, Amanda is adamant she's not competing for parts in the same way any more and has found "peace" now she's in her 50s.

She said: "I'm older, so I have much more peace about it, but it's really, really hard to find that, and it is hard not to want to chase your own buzz if you are lucky enough to have any, and instead, just be like: 'What do I really want to do when my alarm goes off in the morning? What do I want to be doing? Is this really what I want to be doing? Is this really helpful or useful to anyone?'"

It comes after Amanda revealed she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She confirmed her health battle in an essay written for the New Yorker and she has since explained she had to compose herself before discussing the issue with her kids.

Amanda told E! News: "They've been great. I definitely had to get myself together before including them. The hard part was realising that nothing is certain and there was going to be no perfect time to tell them."

Amanda has a great relationship with her daughters, and she's actually started to influence their fashion choices in recent years.

She said: "For so long, it was like, 'What are you wearing, mom? Why are you so uncool?' And then all of a sudden, I was like, 'Oh, look at you. Look who's coming in my closet.'"