You look up to your parents and you want them to accept you, and you don't want them to look at you in a negative light. So you do things to make them proud and accept you.

There are conservative people in all colours in America.

My first audition was an open call and I had no picture and no resume - that's how clueless I was. I just thought I could show up.

My mother's a pretty warm, open person.

It's a surreal experience. During the first show, I was like, Wow, I'm onstage with Ms. Tyson! Everybody has been amazing, and the energy is really beautiful. I'm replacing my friend Condola, so everyone making sure that I'm OK has turned what could've been a very scary, nerve-racking and lonely experience into a supportive environment.

I'm in awe of how grounded Ms. Tyson is and how her performances can be different but the same. She can switch up the delivery, but it's still with the right intention. Her words are effortless in terms of their meaning and how she inhabits them. She's been doing Trip to Bountiful for four months, and it still feels real. She's pretty amazing.

The reason why I found acting is because my father passed away. He passed away really young. I was going to go to med school. My father's dream was that all of his kids become doctors. I realized in school I didn't like it. When he died, it was like a wake-up call. Life is too short to do something you don't want to do.

I would come to L.A. for a job, but I love New York.

I took acting classes in my senior year in college and I loved it.

I love that you can watch a film and 10 years later still be affected.

That's what you want art to do, to open people up and start conversations.

I have a Twitter handle, but I never sign on.

My intention is to do more films.

At the end of the day, if I can say that I had a career where I was able to play all different kinds of characters and I'm known as someone who is well-respected for my approach to the craft, that would be a beautiful life.

I assume Obama knows about stop and frisk, so this is not the person that should be the head of homeland security. I had to say something. Kelly's nomination would go against who President Obama is.

I want to tell authentic, real stories with real characters.

I think L.A. is beautiful.