I think as an American society, when we're paying too many taxes or dealing with war, we don't want to see sad things at the movies.

I'm a girl from Queens. I've never gone, 'What am I doing today? Oh, I'm gonna grab a gun and learn how to use it.'

I'm a kid from New York, so urban life reflected into art and music was around me and accessible and tangible.

I like to be around people who are very passionate. People that won't fight but that will be very over-protective and outspoken about their opinion, their point of view, their ideas.

I want to be in the small percentage of women who don't settle for conventional roles.

I get along very well with animals and children. I dig them, I get them.

I was a ballet dancer for so long, but when I realized I had reached my limit and that I couldn't go any further I knew I wanted to pursue acting. That's one thing you don't use as a dancer - your voice. And the one thing I use most in my life is my voice so it's wonderful to get to express myself artistically through the biggest instrument I use.