[In New York,] when you say you're an actor, there's a certain level of respect that goes with that.

My view of myself as an artist expanded because of the time I spent at Cal Arts.

My first exploration through art was really through music - I've trained classically with piano for about ten years.

The directors were often really nice and I was well behaved, so I would just sit there in rehearsal. That allowed me to see the process - not just the result, the red carpet, all of the wonderful, fun things that happen afterwards - the nuts and bolts, the nitty-gritty, "Let's try to build this character from the page," tech rehearsals.

I started playing piano when I was around four; thats my first passion.

I grew up in the theater with my mom and that's how I knew I wanted to be an actor in the first place.

I realized that once I graduated from college, there might be a period of time where people might typecast me or be more limiting, and I might not be able to play a crazy character. For me, it was important to do that at least in school.