I've pretty much learned I can let that [being black] hinder me if I want to ... or I can fight for different kinds of roles.

I think my feet are my sexiest body part. People I find really sexy include Angelina Jolie, George Clooney and my mum.

As a woman, when you embrace where you are in life, then I think the struggle [life] isn't so hard. If you're 42 and still think you're an ingenue, then you've got a problem.

I have to live for me. I have to do what I need to do for me, and I have stopped concerning myself with what people say.

I've always thought that when anyone receives an award for acting they should always thank their fellow actors, because the only way you're going to deliver your best performance is when you have other good actors on the set supporting you and being very present for you even when the camera is not on them.

I never put myself in that box of you're an Oscar winner so you can only do this or that. That's one award, one night, and it does not define my career or it does not define me as an artist. I never wanted to get put in that Oscar box because that's a lonely place to be.

The first step is clearly defining what it is you're after, because without knowing that, you'll never get it.