I am a strong Ukrainian girl, that is why I work a lot.

I was in acting classes from the age of 9, dance classes, music classes - my mom put a lot of energy and attention into me, so no matter what happened in my life, I always had this basis of discipline. So I really worked hard for everything I had from a very early age.

I love martial-arts movies. I grew up with my dad watching kung-fu theater every Sunday. So it was kind of my thing.

When I learn martial arts, my master will have me try a punch for a week and he will keep saying, 'No, you don't have it. No, that's not right.' When he finally says, 'Yes, you did it,' it's a wonderful moment. You worked on it. You got it.

I really connected with martial arts. I'd always had a fantasy as a kid of being a ninja warrior, so it definitely answered that sort of need in my psyche, too - a need to be superpowerful.

I am a strong Ukrainian girl, that is why I work a lot.

I really want my agent to make sure they write a part in the next Airbender movie for me. I'll be really upset if I don't get to be a waterbender or something.