I'm far from perfect. I'm still learning. I overworked myself, and I paid the price. I consider the breakdown a breakthrough. I needed to hit rock bottom. I needed to understand the cost of pushing so hard; fighting so hard against the system.

I'm not for the villains, I'm only for the princesses. I mean it's fun to have Jafar [Aladdin cartoon villain] or whatever; I didn't even remember their names 'cause they're not important to me.

I'm really fortunate. I'm really happy, and I'm really really lucky to be where I am.

Especially since I stared studying acting, I feel like I'm always super-aware of my emotions and my feelings and what's going on with me at every moment.

Sipping Bailey's Cream by the stereo, trying to find relief on the radio. I'm suppressing the tears.

If you see me as just the princess then you misunderstand who I am and what I have been through.

My father identified as a black man. No one asked him because he was clearly black. But people always ask me. If we were together, people would look at us in a really strange way. It sucked. As a little girl I had blond hair and they'd look at me, look at him, and be disgusted.