I always advocate to young women that if we don't do this for ourselves, no one else is going to. We have to have a voice.

If my film does not do well, it really hurts me. But by God's grace, even if some of my films may not have done well, people have still liked my work in it.

When somebody else calls you exotic, exotic is a box - it's the stereotype of snake charmers and face jewelry. You're just that stereotype. But I don't get offended anymore. I used to get offended by things that were said to me, or how I was seen. Now I educate. If I get pissed off, I'll educate in a sassy way. Other times I educate in a Gandhi-like way. You know - I have my moods.

The harder [role] the better. Definitely. When somebody turns around and says, "She can't do that," then that's the one I want to do.

My ambition when I was four years old was to be married.

I seek out parts which are strong women. It's not the quantity of a role; it's the quality of a role.

I don't want to be a stereotype; I want a character that's aspirational.