I'm a very positive person, but this whole concept of having to always be nice, always smiling, always happy, that's not real. It was like I was wearing a mask. I was becoming this perfectly chiselled sculpture, and that was bad. That took a long time to understand.

I'm committed to evolving and growing and sitting at the head of my own table with no fears or limitations. But I've also learned to be more open now and more spontaneous in life.

I wouldn't mind being in one place for two months or so. It really doesn't sound so bad!

My mixed-race background made me a broad person, able to relate to different cultures. But any woman of colour, even a mixed colour, is seen as black in America. So that's how I regard myself.

When I was younger, studying classical music, I really had to put in the time. Three hours a day is not even nice - you have to put in six.

I grew up around the theatre. My mother is an actress. I would fall asleep on tons of theatre chairs. It's in my blood; it's in my spirit and my fabric of who I am.

I have solid decent people around me, and I believe that is all it is, because you will get destroyed if you have people bringing you down.