And I used to listen to a lot of jazz.

Chick Corea was a great influence on me, musically, as I was growing up.

I face every project the same way – do it right and give 110%. 100% isn’t good enough.

I fit into the quirky, character class type of actor.

I got an early education from television.

I hated stand-up.

I have to approach my life in this way so I can do what I need to do, and do it very well.

I was a shy little girl, nothing like what I am now.

If you’re going to do something, make it right and make it as good as you can. Don’t waste anybody’s time, especially your own.

I’m not the classic type – fair skin, very beautiful women of a classic type, I’m talking about now.

It’s all about humanity, humility, and integrity.

I’ve played piano and guitar when I was younger.

My driving force is spirituality.

My family is very theatrical.

My older sister Nikki went to Hampton music school in Virginia, then to another school later in New York.

People who don’t use the tools given to them only injure themselves.

Singing was the big focus and outlet for me.

So many comics have such low self-esteem.

There is a class system in acting just like in anything else. Black females fall in a category below black male actors.

This business is all about being seen, and the more people see you the better.

Voice is my instrument.

Watched Star Wars in 77 and that’s when I got into watching films. I was just blown away by it.

We always performed for our church, but we also just performed whenever the family got together.

When I was five years old I knew I wanted to act.