Even after such milestones as Kathryn Bigelow winning an Oscar, there still seem to be few women in leadership roles.

There are a handful of actors who sustain interest because it's exciting to watch them get better at what they do. I want to be one of those actors.

It's not my job to critique the writing. I'm there to serve it. I had to figure out a way to make it work.

Sometimes I have these abstract ideas and then lose track of myself.

I took the role of Ophelia in Hamlet because she is so naive, loving, and innocent.

Education is huge for me. I went to public school until I turned thirteen, and was lucky enough to afford college once I became successful as an actress. I cannot believe that quality education costs as much as it does in this country. Ghetto Film School is a remarkable public high school in New York City where students get to learn to express themselves through filmmaking, and have hands-on access to equipment.

I am a big fan of horror movies but I had never thought that I had wanted to act in one because I don't think that actors get to do much in them. They're usually just reacting.