Part of being an artist is that you are always concerned you don't have what it takes. It keeps us honest.

It's in understanding yourself deeply that you can lend yourself to another person's circumstances and another person's experience.

I never, in my wildest dreams, could I have thought that the first role I get out of school would lead to an Oscar nomination.

Whoopi Goldberg looked like me, she had hair like mine, she was dark like me. I'd been starved for images of myself. I'd grown up watching a lot of American TV.

I dress according to how I feel.

I feel privileged that people are looking up to me and perhaps a dream will be born because of my presence.

We don't get to pick the genes we want. There's room in this world for beauty to be diverse.