If you don't look out for others, who will look out for you?

I'm fighting the label of 'Black' actress simply because it's very limiting in people's eyes, especially people who are making movies.

The people who can be helping to make movies that have blacks and Latinos and women and all that - that movie doesn't come to you. Because the idea is that there's no place for black movies.

Her least favorite thing: VOLUNTARY IGNORANCE

If you read to me I could tell you everything that was read. They didn't know what it was. They knew I wasn't lazy, but what was it?

[On writing to Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple:] I told her I would play a Venetian blind, dirt on the floor, anything.

Taliban-esque: Any behavior that imposes the beliefs of one person on everyone else. Conversations with the Taliban-esque are impossible. They aren't even conversations. With them, it's my way or no way.