I grew up in the theater with my mom and that's how I knew I wanted to be an actor in the first place.

The reason why I like theater is because it's a long journey, and no matter what role you play, we are all in it together.

My first exploration through art was really through music - I've trained classically with piano for about ten years.

My mom was really busy when I was growing up, but she did a really good job in terms of balancing her home life with her professional life. She basically took me everywhere.

The way I work emotionally is: I don't ever try to cry. I try not to, which is what for me produces organic emotion.

I wasn't even a theater kid in high school. I studied classical piano, and I ran track.

I started playing piano when I was around four; thats my first passion.

When I'm in Los Angeles, sometimes I hesitate saying that I'm an actor because people are like, "Of course you are." And I'm like "No, not, 'Of course I am.'"

My thing is that if you don't really connect to something or see that it's going to be something you're going to be proud of, I wouldn't do it.

Personally, especially as a young black woman, I didn't think that Los Angeles was a place for me to start. There's a certain type that they go for or don't.

My view of myself as an artist expanded because of the time I spent at Cal Arts.

What is fear but that ‘thing’ that we believed to be as powerful as it pretended to be.

You can't plan for feelings. You have to accept that. Let it scare you. Trust that it'll be okay anyway.

Always dream big because once you stop dreaming you stop living.

Of course I love you. For real. I will sure come and personally meet you myself. Just to make sure you're well. When is your funeral?

Shakespeare is the Joss Whedon of his generation.

I sort of lived half my life in California, half in England, so I am, I suppose, a little bit American.

The world will tolerate many vices, but not their diminutives.

Preach not to others what they should eat, but eat as becomes you and be silent.

Coolness and absence of heat and haste indicate fine qualities.

The most successful people in this world recognize that taking chances to get what they want is much more productive than sitting around being too scared to take a shot.