I was always the one leading the way in terms of wanting to do acting, singing and dancing.

As a biracial girl growing up in England, I'd never really seen any historical characters who looked like me depicted on film before that weren't being brutalized or playing slaves.

I'm just broadening my craft and stretching my skills a little bit in different directions.

I'm interested in playing lots of different complex women.

I think there are parts of myself in every character I play.

I try not to define myself. Other people are going to do that for you anyway.

I try not to limit myself. The actors that inspire me are the comedians and the people able to shape-shift into different roles and into different media. That ensures your longevity as an artist and prevents you from getting bored with yourself and, hopefully, prevents people from getting bored with you.