“Your internal dialogue has got to be different from what you say. And, you know,…” — Viola Davis

You can't be perceived as 'the black actress who doesn't get the same kind of roles as the white actress.' You gotta run the same race. You gotta give the same quality of performances. You gotta have the same standard of excellence, even though people know that you're coming to the race in a deficit. That's just what life is about.

Acting came from growing up in dysfunction. I mean, a lot of great times, but a lot of dysfunction.

I love Wal-Mart. You can put that down. I love Wal-Mart. My husband and I hang out there.

Vanity destroys your work. That's the one thing you have to let go of as an actor. I don't care how sexy or beautiful any woman is. At the end of the day, she has to take her makeup off. At the end of the day, she's more than just pretty.