My parents were of the opinion, because they had started skating very young, that you should have something that you do that you care about, because it structures your life as you're growing up.

I love academics, theory and all that. I love and admire that and try to do as much reading as I can.

Russia itself is an extremely complex country, and sometimes I feel like all of that comes back to haunt me. I can see why so many Russian writers were so tortured.

I tried ice-skating and wasn't very good at it.

I'm not passive aggressive. If something bothers me, I think about it, then I act on it. I express it.

I'm fascinated by how ethnic communities have assimilated into massive capitalist environments.

I prefer when movies target my heart instead of my mind.