Without Education, You Really Can't

I Would Say Only Be An Actress If You Genuinely Feel The Calling, Because It's A Tough Profession.

I Just Feel Incredibly Lucky. I Went To Drama School And About 28 Of Us Graduated. I Graduated From Drama School In 2000, And I Would Say About Two Of Us Are Working And Able To Make A Living Out Of It. It Is A Tough Profession. To Have The Kind Of Success I Have Had Is Really Amazing, And I Am Incredibly Grateful.

I Wanted To Play Roles Which Offered New Ways Of Viewing Black Women And Black People In General- And I Have Done That. And I Have Always, Whether I Needed To Pay The Rent Or Not, I've Always Turned Down Roles Which I Thought Were Stereotypical. And So When I Look At My Body Of Work In That Respect, I Am Really Happy. Because I Feel My Work Does Say Something Positive And That Was What I Always Set Out To Do.

I Always Find Filming Stressful. I Get Very Caught Up Thinking About My Character - 'am I Doing It Right? Should It Be Done This Way?'

When I Have Finished A Job, Done All The Promotion, And It's Been Received Well. Then I Can Allow Myself The Luxury Of A Break, And Chilling Out With My Family And Friends, And Taking A Nice Break Knowing I've Done A Good Job.