Hollywood is strange in and of itself. People dress up and pretend to be other people, and you can either make millions of dollars, or no money. It's odd.
— Octavia Spencer
Being a part of a large family is just like a little society: those who fight to the top of the heap. We relied on each other and still do. They never discouraged me or told me to get a proper job.
My life is exactly the way it needs to be.
The pace of television is very different from film.
You would not believe that Paula Patton and I have the same trainer.
It may sound funny, but it's true: I tried to put myself through the 12-step program. I didn't want to attend a real meeting; my role didn't really require that, and I feel those meetings are sort of sacred, and they're anonymous for a reason. I tried to deal with some of my love of snacks - and I relapsed a lot.
My mom always told me I could do or be anything I dared to dream, and I always wanted to work in the movie industry.
I don't think there will ever be a time I don't write, and I hope there will never be a time I don't act.
I'm reading today because of 'Encyclopedia Brown.'
Be happy in your own skin.
I gravitate to whatever looks good on me and whatever maakes me feel sexy.
I think success happens when it's supposed to and when you can appreciate it. I am grateful that it didn't happen for me at 22 or 23. I would've been foolish enough to think that we're all entitled to it, instead of it being the divine blessing that it is.
If you tell me I can't eat something, I'll obsess over it and end up overeating!
I love working with kids and seeing the light come on when they realize they are smart. It's so beautiful to watch.
I think if we give kids a break in education, we would have fewer crimes being committed. If we keep them on track, they know that they have options. It's important for me because, you know, my life would've been different had I not had the education that I had.
When you see results, you start to wonder, 'What would happen if I had oatmeal instead of sausage for breakfast?' You start to eat better because you feel better.
I'm a woman who eventually will get married and have kids - adopted at this point - but I see myself with a family and less time to commit to wanting to be a lead character.
Will Smith would not be Worldwide Will Smith if he had not insisted on going worldwide and touring with his films. You have to build that audience for people and allow for it to happen.
My idea of success is not Oscars. Am I glad I have that little trinket? Yes, I am. But it depends on how you define success. The minute I got my first professional cheque from Joel Schumacher, I was successful. Somebody's paying me to act!
I will live in TV Land watching 'Columbo.' I also like my 'Forensic Files,' all of that true crime.
Tough love is the hardest to give.
I probably wanted to be Pam Grier growing up.
I'm thrilled I got to work with James Ponsoldt, who is going to make his mark on this industry.
I like to read, even though it was really tough, because I could go anywhere in the world in a book, and I could have so many adventures in a book.
I am not maternal at all. I don't have any kids.
If more women ate, they would be a lot happier. Let me tell you, I am a lot grumpier when I don't eat.
If you are unhealthy, start by making small changes to become healthier. You are unique, beautiful, and worthy.
As a kid, I was always very thin, and I kind of didn't know that I was skinny.
I know I'm never going to be one of those size 2 actresses - that's just not me. But I do want to be the healthiest I can be, and a role model to women of all shapes and sizes.
When you give kids the tools necessary to change their destiny, it's really empowering.
I've seen too many sunrises, as far as the walk of shame, staying out too late doing very bad things.
I am an advocate of education. It is the panacea for all that ails us in our society.
I have tried every diet to lose weight. When you restrict yourself, you're setting yourself up for failure.
You have to create your own path and I'm up to the challenge.
There are so few roles out there. And even if it is a film that could be led by a black actress, how many times is that film going to get funded? Let's just be real. But it's not just black people. It's Asians, it's Hispanic people if you're not Salma Hayek. It's hard. It's hard to get films funded.
Let me tell you, my career went from zero to 900. Its hard keeping up with that pace, but I wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world.
I'm dyslexic, and it takes me longer to memorize and to embody the character so I can really own it.
I am not trying to conform to an unrealistic model of beauty. I am, however, being proactive in being the healthiest I can be.
I'm one of those people if you ask, 'What's your favourite song?' I'm going to give you five. I don't have just one favourite.
I literally don't think about Oscar.
When we don't have all the details about our characters, we have to make it up to fill in all the details. So, for me, writing and acting go hand in hand.
I wanted to write about the things that I love.
I feel for the overly thin women as I do for the overweight women.
I should be married and have 19 kids. And now I'm thinking my eggs are dying on the shelf. They're going to go past their expiration date. But it's what I chose, so I'm fine with that decision.
The mentality of how we treat one another needs to be examined - especially how we treat our men of color.
My weight has always been a struggle for me.
City Year resonated with me because when I grew up, we were poor - and an education is a way out of poverty. It's a way out of the current situation that can seem isolating and hopeless for some kids.
The college years are when you sow all your wild oats and become a vampire. By 40, you've lived it up. At least, you hope.
People think that I have this wonderful hourglass figure, but I owe that to designer Tadashi Shoji because he cuts for me really well.
It's been pretty effortless with Sensa because I am not thinking about how long do I need to do this. Usually, when you stop a diet program, you lose control again. But I don't need to stop what I'm doing. I'm eating everything that I like. Sensa just helps me keep it all in check.
