This is a career about images. It’s celluloid; they last for ever. I’m a black woman from America. My people were slaves in America, and even though we’re free on paper and in law, I’m not going to allow you to enslave me on film, in celluloid, for all to see.
When you ask the best questions of yourself and others, you invite the best answers.
I can give you the King’s English and then I can take it to the street, but do both or do one and don’t do one knowing only the street. That’s going to hold you back because what comes out is going to impress people, and it will impress them negatively.
I really believe that what I do as an actress is my God-given talent. This is my calling, not my career.
Acting is my calling, not my career.
The three things I said when I came out of school were I want to work consistently, I want to do good work and I want to be paid fairly, and that’s happened. But I didn’t become an actress for the money. I do it for other reasons.
As an actor, you’re used to putting on characters, taking them off, becoming someone else, doing your research, and working on that.
The first time I acted was in high school in Florida, and when I heard that applause I felt so alive and felt that electricity go up my spine.
I am content that the work that I’ve done is wonderful.
I look in the eyes and I see the heart. As long as it’s a human story. I would like to turn on my television and see African American, Hispanic, Asian as well as Caucasian. And I think there are probably more people like me.
Theater’s my first love. I love it. It excites me. It feeds me.