Do what you have to do, to do what you want to do.

We've all received our share of good fortune, so that's my definition of much. A single blessing is all the bounty in the world, and if you've been blessed at all you're meant to pass some of that on. You're meant to set a positive example. That's our responsibility

I try to encourage actors to work harder off screen because that's where you find things.

I think the bottom of the totem pole is African-American women, or women of colour. I think they get the least opportunities in Hollywood.

It's not easy for me to admit that I've been standing in the same place for 18 years.

There's a book called "The Sociopath Next Door." I thought most sociopaths were violent. In fact, they aren't. But almost all sociopaths want to win, no matter what.

It just happened that we did [Fences] seven years ago on Broadway. Scott Rudin brought me August Wilson's original screenplay for it, and I realized I hadn't read the play. So I read it. Then I realized that Troy (my character) was 53 - and I was 55 at the time. I realized I better hurry up! I might be too old!