You're always defined in relation to the environment that you're in and to the people that you're around.

I am Latino. I'm proud of being Latino. That's not to say I wouldn't love to see more diversity in casting. It's starting to get better but we are nowhere near where we need to be. But I'm not scared of playing Latinos, as long as they're well-drawn.

I auditioned for a community theater-slash-professional production of Oliver Twist in Union City when I was 11 because my cousin wanted to be an actor and I was visiting her and it seemed like fun. I was Oliver. I hadn't had any training, I was just a cute kid. There was an agent in the audience.