Viola Davis

August Wilson is the one writer that writes about men like my father, who had a fifth grade education, who was a janitor at McDonald's.

'Rebel' is not a word I would describe for myself, but I feel like I was a total rebel being an actor. It made me feel like there was something in me, a passion, a love - and that I didn't just squelch it.

When people come into the theater, whether it's the screen or the stage, they've gotta be transported and transformed.

I just want different narratives for people of color, especially women of color. I just want something that's different. I don't want us to be put in a box. I want it to be kind of a redefinition of who were are. If I can even achieve that in a tiny way, I'll be good. I'll be good.

We didn't have money all the time to do laundry. A lot of the time, we didn't have soap or hot water. We were smart kids academically, but we'd go to school smelling.

I did everything to get food. I have stolen for food. I have jumped in huge garbage bins with maggots for food. I have befriended people in the neighborhood who I knew had mothers who cooked three meals a day for food, and I sacrificed a childhood for food and grew up in immense shame.

Because I grew up in such tight spaces, I don't get manicures, pedicures. I'm not into cars, but I am into a fabulous house. I wanted the spiral staircase, clean sheets on the bed, to be able to take a shower.

I cannot believe my life. I just can't. I'm so blessed.

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

Sometimes there is no sugar-coating it. Sometimes you have to challenge people's belief systems in a progressive way.

Acting is not rocket science, but it is an art form. What you are doing is illuminating humanity. Or not.

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

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

This is the richest country in the world. There's no reason kids should be going to school hungry. Food is something that everyone should have. It just is.

I tell my daughter every morning, 'Now, what are the two most important parts of you?' And she says, 'My head and my heart.' Because that's what I've learned in the foxhole: What gets you through life is strength of character and strength of spirit and love.

I've had to sink my teeth into a role that was probably a fried-chicken dinner and make it into a filet mignon.

The more I'm pushed in a position of leadership and I know I have to be the mouthpiece for so many other people who can't speak for themselves, the more confidence I'm gaining.

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

I think women are very complicated human beings, and I think there's an oversimplification of women when you see them on screen.

I do believe that there are African Americans who have thick accents. My mom has a thick accent; my relatives have thick accents. But sometimes you have to adjust when you go into the world of film, TV, theatre, in order to make it accessible to people.