Self-esteem comes from who you have in your life. How you were raised. What you struggled with as a child.

Throughout my career I have been talked out of things I wanted to do, and when I look back, I think I should have followed my instincts.

I think a smart person today realizes that you have to be part of the art films that are done just for the sake of the art.

I carried my Oscar to bed with me. My first and only three-way happened that night.

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.

Self-esteem comes from who you have in your life. How you were raised. What you struggled with as a child.

What's hardest for me to swallow is when there is a love story, say, with a really high-profile male star and there's no reason I can't play the part. They say, 'Oh, we love Halle, we just don't want to go black with this part.'