My mother was devoted to helping people - with my father's money! - who had great voices but didn't have the financial means to study music. He and my mum gave away dozens of music scholarships, and my mum opened a school in town, introduced opera to children and created fantastic programmes.

No woman has to be a victim of physical abuse. Women have to feel like they are not alone.

Every woman who thinks she is the only victim of violence has to know that there are many more.

I have always been an active part of my community.

What worries me the most is that most men are so weak. Because of that they act like they don't care and like machos - because they are too fragile inside. They're scared of confrontation and afraid of so many things.

Life, I've got lots of friends. I don't complain.

I know the only reason that I haven't gotten many good parts is because I am Latin - and they tell it to my face a lot of times.