As an actor, you're used to putting on characters, taking them off, becoming someone else, doing your research, and working on that.

My mom was always pretty supportive. She saw me do plays and she'd always act out the parts I did.

This is a career about images. It's celluloid; they last for ever. I'm a black woman from America. My people were slaves in America, and even though we're free on paper and in law, I'm not going to allow you to enslave me on film, in celluloid, for all to see.

Memories are meant to fade, Lenny. They're designed that way for a reason.

I'm the type of individual that I enjoy watching any different cultural lives, and I see the common humanity even though the hair textures are different or the skin tones are varied.

When you ask the best questions of yourself and others, you invite the best answers.

The first time I acted was in high school in Florida, and when I heard that applause I felt so alive and felt that electricity go up my spine.