I don’t want anyone putting any limits on me.

Every artist, true artist, struggles with an overwhelming sense of feeling like you're not worthy.

I already optioned a book called The Personal History of Rachel DuPree. I also like The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill. And I love all of Octavia Butler's books. She's created some very complicated black heroines with a variety of belief systems. There are many great books out there, but those are a few of the ones that stand out.

I think watching my mom gave me great inspiration, I wish that had been reinforced more verbally. It would have kept me from a lot of pain.

I get so excited when my daughter says something new, which she is doing every day. I can leave the house for a few hours, come back and meet a totally different person. That's very exciting to me.

They say, 'To serve is to love,' and I think to serve is to heal, too.

I really wanted to show [in "fences"] a marriage that is working. Not perfect, but working.