While Zach Braff launched his career on the slapstick sitcom Scrubs, the actor says in real life, he resembles the depressed character he played in Garden State.

"I think I suffer from some mild depression," he tells Parade magazine in an interview to be published on Sunday. "So to have millions of people go, 'I watched your movie and related' was the ultimate affirmation that I'm not a freak."

Braff, 31, who wrote and directed Garden State, says that he stands out in Hollywood – and he doesn't mind. "I don't have any famous friends other than the guys I work with on Scrubs, he says. "I don't care about image and all that nonsense. I'm in sweat pants every day. I don't play the game at all."

But some aspects of Braff's Hollywood life do garner public attention – especially his relationships. The actor recently dated singer Mandy Moore, who is now in the early stages of dating Adam "DJ A.M." Goldstein.

"We were together for a while, and that is the only true thing that has ever been written about my romantic life," he jokes to Parade.

Nevertheless, Braff says he wants to start a family. So what does he look for in a woman? "(Someone) who is funny and energetic and passionate about what she does," he says.

Nominated for a Golden Globe for best actor in a comedy series for Scrubs, Braff says he has yet to decide whether or not the beloved series will continue, but does feel "optimistic that there will be a seventh season."

In the meantime, he is readying another film, Fast Track, with Amanda Peet, a romantic comedy due out in March about a family man who is saddled with a bad job.

"At my age, those are the things you are always talking about," Braff says, explaining that the comedy has real-life implications. "If I'm going to have kids, how will that change things? I like to think that all of the introspection leads to something really funny."