In Monster's Ball I went nude, which was scary, but I took the chance and that's how I like to approach my career.

Having a baby takes so much from you. It's the most glorious thing you'll ever do, but the aftermath is not so glorious!

Any time you risk big you often risk losing big. You can win big but you can also lose big, but you have to be willing to take those risks.

I was black growing up in an all-white neighborhood, so I felt like I just didn't fit in. Like I wasn't as good as everybody else, or as smart, or whatever.

Blackness is a state of mind and I identify with the black community. Mainly, because I realized, early on, when I walk into a room, people see a black woman, they don't see a white women. So out of that reason alone, I identify more with the black community.

It gave me strength and toughness because I had to face reality, no matter how uncomfortable or painful it was.

People win 'Oscars', and then it seems like they fall off the planet. And that's partly because a huge expectation walks in the room and sits right down on top of your head.