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I was always rather outspoken. I worried about what people thought of me but there really wasn't room for a lot of self-doubt.

It wasn't until I found my tribe of artists - people who were outspoken and not afraid to say what they thought, whether in a song or a dance or a piece of classical music - that I found a refuge.

There was a point in the '80s when I looked out at my audience and I saw people that - were I not on the stage - they'd sooner slug me as they walked by me on the sidewalk. And I realized that I was way beyond the choir.

You can be young and still have views and opinions.

People say I'm shrill and strident.

I was very driven to act from a very young age, and my parents were not only tolerant of that drive but also encouraging.

When I was young I used to listen to other people and to try and understand what they thought and where they were coming from. I listened and didn't speak.

It was probably years before I was confident enough in stand-up that I was able to talk about the things I wanted to talk about, the way I wanted to talk about them.

I knew I was outspoken when I was a kid because, whenever my parents had company coming over, they would pay me to leave. 'Go see your grandmother. Get out of here.' That was my first paying gig.

I kind of realized I could sing, so I played around with that for a while. And that led me to acting in itself, which I came more passionate about by the age of 15.