"The only thing that separates women of color from everyone else is opportunity." — Viola Davis

There's no prerequisites to worthiness. You're born worthy, and I think that's a message a lot of women need to hear.

I don't know how I got a great husband. I mean, God just blessed me with that one. Because - trust me - before him, I was not making good choices. So I was just absolutely blessed. I just prayed for that man He's my secret weapon because he's so gregarious, and he's so filled with joy. Me? I can sometimes be more cynical, and I'm very shy.

I was the kind of poor where I knew right away I had less than everyone around me. Our environment, our physical space reflected our income.

I always talk to all the crew. I always make it pleasant. I always nurture a relationship that makes people feel like they're important, like they're a part of the collaboration. I feel that way about the young actors on set. I don't talk to them like I'm the mentor; I talk to them like they're my peers. And I learned that from Meryl Streep.