Khandi Alexander

When you stop to take a minute and look at Queen Latifah's career, she came out of the box right. You know, 'Ladies First!' And she's been consistent with that message of female self-empowerment. She really has!

There's nothing worse than having a very strong female character and then suddenly having it go away.

I said, 'I'll give myself two years. If I can't support myself as an actress within two years, then I'll go back to choreography.'

I don't know anyone who's 100 percent pure - nor do I have any interest in portraying anyone like that.

In the case of 'News Radio,' I loved that show. I loved the actors and the producers, but I was longing very much for something more to sink my teeth into me. I think it was an incredibly smart show, but I found myself on the peripheral of a lot of it.

I love that movie 'Chicago.'

I love playing characters that are unrecognizable.

So the only things I was being allowed to audition for were small roles in comedies. It broke my heart. No one would see me for anything else. I knew, in order to open up my career, I had to leave or that's all I would ever be given.

I like comedy, I love it very much, I love laughing.

This hiatus coming up I'm looking at a comedy because I need the balance.

I have deep comedic roots, and I want to be funny.

Talk about divine intervention. I can't even tell you how blessed I feel.