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

I made a commitment to completely cut out drinking and anything that might hamper me from getting my mind and body together. And the floodgates of goodness have opened upon me - spiritually and financially.

I even asked [Saniyya Sidney] why she wanted to be an actor and she said, "I'm serious about this. These other little kids they want to play, and I don't have time for that."

Growing up I didn't watch movies.

Acting is like music and you improvise. It's like jazz, there's no rhyme or reason to it. It's not a plan. You practice to music and you just play it.

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

I've been fortunate. I don't pick scripts. Scripts pick me.