I like to look strong and commanding.

I've witnessed racism all my life. And of course there's racism and discrimination in Hollywood. You go for a part and they say, 'Oh, we really liked her, she's amazing, but we wanted to go with something more traditional'. As if I'm not a traditional American!

Trust me: Studios, investors, filmmakers, they will shift because they just follow the money trail.

Sometimes we get too caught up in wanting to do that one movie that will get seen and approved and nominated, that we lose sight that there are so many other movies that are worth your time.

Let's start creating better roles that accurately depict people we know so closely.

Dancing for the length of time that I did, it centered me in such a way to be really in tune with my body, and I just feel like I'm physically able to do things because of my ballet background. Without ballet, I don't think I'd look graceful at all on screen.

You need one hundred percent commitment; you have to be willing to wake up every morning knowing you're going to [practice] eight hours straight.