I can't impersonate someone. That is not what I do. I can only take someone's essence and create a character out of that.

I would say only be an actress if you genuinely feel the calling, because it's a tough profession.

I did not enjoy Cambridge. But I shouldn't blame Cambridge alone. I wasn't ready for university or for the wrench of leaving home. It was a big cultural shock.

Getting to travel around the world and go to glamorous locations is certainly not what I had as a kid.

People have very strong opinions about how their national icons should be played.

I'm absolutely loving being part of Bondiana, and that not only am I a Bond girl, but I get to be an agent as well.

I wanted to play roles which offered new ways of viewing black women and black people in general- and I have done that. And I have always, whether I needed to pay the rent or not, I've always turned down roles which I thought were stereotypical. And so when I look at my body of work in that respect, I am really happy. Because I feel my work does say something positive and that was what I always set out to do.