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.

I went through an awkward adolescence and had braces.

I don't come from money.

I was a big sci-fi fantasy geek when I was younger... secretly, in my room.

I think that's the best career that someone can have is one that's reflective of their personal tastes.

You always fear, when you're making a movie that has a moral to the story, that people are going to reject the idea of being taught a lesson...

That worries me an awful lot. If people misunderstand our intentions [in Black Snake Moan], especially regarding my character, then they're essentially exploiting an already exploited and abused woman. So it's a huge concern for me.