I work hard for the audience. It's entertainment. I don't need validation.

[Saniyya Sidney] was very serious about her work and her craft, and she wanted to be good, and she wanted to work on it. So I said, "Ok." It was as simple as that. She was just right. She just has it.

I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.

I had the kid [on "Fences" ] who understudied me so I could stand back and think about shots so he had to learn the blocking and everything. I'd come in early sometimes, and they 'd be in there rehearsing and working on their stuff. I didn't want them to feel like, "Oh these are people who can't be touched." We're all working actors; we're all trying to get better.

I'm from around Tennessee. I ran away when I was 12 years old and I ain't never looked back.

Every punch that's thrown is mine. Every punch that's caught, I catch.

That's what I tell young actors. "You don't have to compromise. Go do some theater and wait for an appropriate role."