There are times when I haven't been proud of America or really proud. But there have been times that I've been incredibly proud of the country.

An actress can only play a woman. I'm an actor, I can play anything.

We're dealing with old issues that aren't ours. We carry them and we pass them on to those who come after us. I am hoping to crack some of those.

Normal is in the eye of the beholder.

When I was nine years old, Star Trek came on, I looked at it and I went screaming through the house, 'Come here, mum, everybody, come quick, come quick, there's a black lady on television and she ain't no maid!' I knew right then and there I could be anything I wanted to be.

You don't want to think something might be racist, but it might be, because your gut is telling you it is

When I was doing ensemble theater and comedy work, I felt I had some talents. But when I started doing my shows in Berkeley and found that I could be funny on my own, I was shocked.