Tracee Ellis Ross

There are things about my body that I don't love, but I'm not trying to look perfect every day - I'm trying to look like me!

So about this Fierce and Fearless award, honestly, I am often afraid. I was terrified when I lost my voice. But I've come to understand and listen to the fear. I walk towards it. I lean into it to find the information and things that it has to teach me - unless it says run, and then I run.

I listen to my body. Some days all I want is a good steak and others, I crave veggies and quinoa.

I used to think 40 was old. Now I think, 'Hey, 40's hot!'

I used to watch my mom put her makeup on for the stage, and it was one of the most special moments. I would sit quietly on the dressing room floor and watch her put her face on. I think she looks most beautiful in the morning when she wakes up with no makeup on... it's my favorite look on women.

I think it's possible to have a vision for your life that goes beyond any circumstance of anything that you've ever seen, and I encourage people to do that. But I don't think that any of us can do that in a vacuum.

'Blackish' is set in current times. So, doing a police brutality episode in current times when kids are watching our show, it gives them an access point to have these kinds of conversations as family.

Having been in the business for a while, I never like to look forward. You kind of enjoy what's happening while it's happening and leave the rest up to God, the angels, the trees, the stars - whatever you want to call it.

I'm attracted to bold women - I collect them. I met one of my best friends when we both were about 22 and working at 'Mirabella' magazine. I was wearing this blue dress I had borrowed from my mom, and I didn't know I had deodorant lines all over it until my friend signaled to me.

We live in a culture where people are constantly telling us how to get what we want, and within that message is, 'You need to be something other than you are.'

I have started using the expression 'compassionate activism': It's about keeping my heart open so that I can understand the point of view of the other person.

There is no right way to do life.

I grew up on the ragged edge of self-acceptance, where I was holding on to it, but it was easy to fall off. But as I found my way inside myself, I've been able to accept my own hair, my own shape.

If you look back at what I believe and what I stand for, I am certainly a proud feminist.

I don't do what I do to get nominated. I do what I do because I love it.

Everyone's always like, 'Be your best self!' And that drives me bananas, because when you're not, it makes you feel really bad.

Human rights, race relations, gender politics, health care, and foreign policy - it's a lot to keep track of, and yet all of these things affect us in our daily lives. Making sense of everything requires meticulous unpacking of feelings, delicate navigation of social norms, and a community of love to help along the way.

There's a power in what we hold as artists, and part of that comes with responsibility... to share the human experience and really allow that to be seen.

Even if politicians spew confusing, convoluted jargon, these people are still meant to represent me, and the only way that happens is if I stay informed and vote.

Lily Tomlin was one of the early comedy greats who influenced my courage to be the person I am.