Eating bread in Hollywood is a no-no!

And I sit in my jacuzzi with my script.

You can't be hesitant about who you are.

Relationships change us and make us grow.

Each role has its own different challenges.

People are just not impressed by me at home.

My grandmother's house was a one room shack.

I don’t want anyone putting any limits on me.

Self-deprecation is not the answer to humility.

I know I'm not the best, but I'm proud of myself.

Cicely Tyson was my inspiration to become an actor.

I definitely have a happy marriage and family life.

I talk to women all the time and try to impart wisdom.

I am addicted to any facial product that's anti-aging.

I want my work to reflect my level of gifts and talent

So many women characters are extensions of male fantasy.

The big 'Aha!' moment is that the trauma never goes away.

I am not a morning person, but I always work out - always.

I reserve the right to be a mess and completely unlikable.

You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.

I live a fantastic life. Why should I complain about awards?

I don't know why directing is not something I'm interested in.

Anything can be achieved with a good, healthy dose of courage.

Womanhood is you. Womanhood is everything that's inside of you.

I've always seen myself for who I am, which is a lot of things.

Creativity only resonates if you infuse real life into the work.

I have been given a lot of roles that are downtrodden, mammy-ish.

I think that I'm coming off as the biggest alcoholic in the world.

You're only reduced to a cliche if you don't humanize a character.

Every job I've ever gotten has transformed me in some way as an actor.

I truly believe that the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.

When your passion and drive are bigger than your fears, you just dive.

They say, 'To serve is to love,' and I think to serve is to heal, too.

Lloyd Richards is another director who was like that, who was a teacher.

When you see what the deficit is, then you have to do something about it.

I am not a glam woman - this definitely is a mask I put on for the public.

When you grow up in abject poverty, you see people exactly the way they are.

We as artists cannot be politicians. We as artists can only be truth-tellers.

I am the mother of a 6-year-old now, so that's changed my entire perspective.

If the opportunity is not out there for you to play it, then you don't see it.

When you are an actor, you are in the most powerless position in this business.

The only thing that separates women of color from everyone else is opportunity.

I think sometimes what people miss about black people is that we're complicated.

I needed to make my wig ogg because I no longer wanted to apologize for who I am

I think tapping into one's power and one's potential is a very frightening thing.

I think I've lived long enough to understand that plans really are very overrated.

It's time for people to see us, people of colour, for what we really are: complicated.

When you pray, God puts people in your life to lead you when you cannot lead yourself.

My whole thing is, I've got to be as good, as courageous as what's written on the page.

I love Wal-Mart. You can put that down. I love Wal-Mart. My husband and I hang out there.

Share This Page