I made a commitment to myself: that I wanted to be an actress, and I wanted to do films that make a difference... It has to move people.

Virginia Mayo had kind of a small role in The Best Years of Our Lives, but you got the whole character in one scene. Where are those parts? I was talking to somebody about great actors: Morgan Freeman's name came up, Forest Whitaker, Denzel Washington. And I realized, there're no black actresses. Where's there a black actress who's been extremely successful in the past 10 years?

Unfortunately, overall, movies are a conglomerate. People buy and sell people in this business, which can get really ugly.

What about good small roles for women? I've told my agent, if there are two great scenes in a film, I don't care, if it's something with that great edge to it.

If my career were a hairstyle, it would be helmet-head.

It's really fun to act like a bimbo. But it's fun to act like a bimbo only when people know that you really aren't one.

I don't turn my nose up at anything. If it's a great part, it's a great part. I'd love to do a box-office hit.