If an audience doesn't get that [Black Snake Moan] is a movie about overcoming exploitation, it could come across as incredibly misogynistic. That would be the worst thing in the world for me.

I love the solitude of being on a plane and finally getting to read an entire book and being left alone.

I think that we need to look at ourselves and look at the way women perpetuate misogyny. Because at a certain point you can't blame other people for things in your life. I've felt that most of the misogyny I've witnessed in my life - a lot of it, yes, it comes from men, but most of it professionally has come from other women.

I didn't use to think anything was worth keeping private. Now I do.

One thing I noticed after being down in Mississippi for the shoot was that words like "God" and "Jesus" are used all the time, but they're not specifically referring to Jesus. It's sort of this accepted phraseology for love, or spirituality, or whatever it is you personally believe in.

If anyone ever saw me dance, they'd have trouble taking me seriously.

Now my body is really womanly - a little too much so. It's someting I can fall back on. When I don't know what else to do, I stick my chest out.