I don't want to act just to be on the screen doing anything and looking any kind of way.

I find that the British audience listens and they accept the performer for its value, value as a singer, as a vocalist, value as a performer. You're only accepted if you're good.

The choice that I made was from my best music, for the songs that I knew that the public liked. Then, when I recorded my new songs I found that my old material had not faded, it was still current, the music was good and the songs were great. I sat in my house and listened, got the chills, and I thought, how great is that? It hasn't dated, it hasn't gone anywhere, and it's great.

There's been (if you sort of scan the magazines) announcements of different performers that has come and tried to get the British audience to go crazy, simply by them entering the stage because they had a hit record. It just doesn't happen. That happens in America.

You take your problems to a god, but what you really need is for the god to take you to the inside of you.

I never had that thing about being black. If the whole world was like that, maybe there would be more harmony and love.

My greatest beauty secret is being happy with myself. I don't use special creams or treatments - I'll use a little bit of everything. It's a mistake to think you are what you put on yourself. I believe that a lot of how you look is to do with how you feel about yourself and your life. Happiness is the greatest beauty secret.