It's challenging being a woman. There are other kinds of obstacles that come your way, but there are many times that being Latin has actually helped me, being a Cuban-American has helped me.

I just want to be known for things other than my sexuality.

If you took me to Coachella for our first date, it would probably be a done deal. It would be a sure thing.

Knowing when someone's the real deal or not, but still with putting your guard up and self-protecting, you've got to stay open. It comes back to balance.

That's the beauty of being an actress, is that you hopefully get to have different roles and really stretch yourself. This is really what I've been working for a while. I've been in the business for a minute, and it's an opportunity like this that I've been really working towards.

I'd love for my ambition and will and intellect and sense of humour to define me as well. I'm definitely responsible for the image that I put out there. But it does become frustrating, because I don't want 'sexy' to be my defining characteristic.

It's flattering that people think I'm sexy, but it's not the end-all, be-all. The minute I put my self-esteem on what they think I am, I'm screwed, because one day they're not going to think I'm sexy.