From the age of four, I loved ballet and tap. I was in the school band, the choir, and all my school plays.

I try to put myself into whatever character I play.

I think, irrespective of your race, everybody has moments in life where they don't fit in, or where they try to puzzle through who they really are or to find the courage of their convictions.

For me, after emotionally intense roles, I'd need to take a step back because then there's the promoting of the film which is another job in itself.

I'm a multi-faceted human being.

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

There is the old boys' club, but there are ­people who are "conviction lobbyists" coming from the heart.