As Latinos, we are so aware of what people go through in order to come to America. It's very interesting to do research on something that's been culturally a part of your existence.

You get caught up sometimes in the deadlines and the pressures and certain things that you can't really control that you forget that this is supposed to be an enjoyable journey.

Doing this movie [Fast Food Nation] made me realize that our bodies are digesting things that it's not meant to digest. It's pretty bad for you. The cast is [now] very, very aware of where we get our food and what we put in our bodies.

When things get dark, they're going to get darker, and at that very moment, that's when you hang on that much tighter because that's when salvation and light come.

I love the human mind.

Because I had an accent, people had this impression that I was dumb.

In your darkest times there's always room for a little light.