Jason Mitchell

I didn't know how capable I was until the people around me in acting school would say I was good.

I was the epitome of rags to riches.

I've got some stories to tell, and acting was a way I could express myself and not feel stupid. I fell in love with that.

I eat a lot. I'm a big sandwich dude. Turkey, mayonnaise, mustard, cheese, yes. I love craft services.

I can do a backflip on the spot. I learned how from watching 'Ninja Turtles' movies as a kid. Whenever the Turtles got in trouble with their teacher, Master Splinter, he'd make them practice backflips as punishment - and I was so focused on becoming one of the Turtles that I taught myself how to do one, too.

I'm from a very violent city. I'm from New Orleans, Louisiana, and it's good to see me be able to express my art, have a good opportunity for my life, make history and say something, without being violent.

You have to continue to smile through life. And it's good when you get to bring that out in a character.

I've lived so much life as a young man. New Orleans, we got terms, and one's like, 'He jumped off the porch early.' That's kind of what happened to me. I had to grow up really quick.

I didn't really plan on fame. I never really factored that part into my life.

I lived the street life for a minute; I lost a lot of friends.

If you get it right, it's the most grand thing you could ever do. So many people let biopics slip through their fingers, but the opportunity to play Eazy-E could change my life.

The skill set that I think we have as actors is so cool because they train you in ways that you never thought you'd be trained. And that's skills that they can't take back. So as you go further in your career, you can dump all these skills into things.