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I always look at things half full and definitely see a change in how things are going as far as black actresses and their opportunities.

So now I feel I'm lucky in the respect that I can sort of pick a little more carefully, which is tricky because as a black actress, there aren't that many roles to pick from.

I think the actresses who are really successful are the ones who are comfortable in their own skins and still look human.

Hollywood needs to recognise all shades of African American beauty.

I know some black actresses who have to wait every 19 films for a role. I can be cast in practically every one as a young white male.

When I got out of acting school, I was lucky to have gotten any job at all. A lot of people hiring African American actresses - it was right after 'Roots,' and for society, not me, it was great. Nice richly dark-skinned people was the fashion, and I was not.

There are so many glamorous actresses, but you know what? In the real world, nobody looks like that.

As a black actress you've got to work doubly hard. But it doesn't ever get me to the point where I give up on myself. It just motivates me to be more prepared, focus and disciplined. That's why I care so much about doing black films and making sure that we represent and are represented correctly.

There are a lot of limitations and stigmas that are placed on young actors, specifically young black actors.