Our society doesn't want to help girls like that [in Black Snake Moan]. They just want to use them.

I could easily exist on less money, but I like the way I live now.

I have so much respect for Sam [L.Jackson] that if I had questions about anything, I would call and ask him if he agreed with me before I brought it up with Craig [Brewer].

I just want to be married, or just engaged. Basically, I just want a ring. And the tax break.

We can use the romantic relationship as a microcosmic example. Until you really understand the other person and where they're coming from and you understand yourself and how you contribute to things, you can never make that relationship better. And I think sometimes people don't understand how much these things are related.

For years, I hated myself. I covered the mirrors in my house. I literally couldn't have a mirror in my room.

It's so normal for a teenager to dress in black -- and be real unhappy and stay in your room and say sarcastic things. How could something so normal be considered morbid?