"I'm here not just as an actress but as a woman, an African-American, a granddaughter of Ellis Island..." — Kerry Washington

I don't want to not be African. The goal is to live in a world where my race doesn't limit my access, where I can see myself represented in the highest level of society without any limitation.

If I were somebody who spent the majority of my time saying things that were harsh and difficult to hear, I would want my visual aesthetic to be something soft and feminine, warm and easy to be around.

I would wear pajamas to work every day if it were up to me.

I have girlfriends in this business who talk about their personal lives, and it works for them, and I love it. But not for me.