Marsai Martin

Growing up, I didn't have any inspirations.

One of my mom's favorite movies growing up was 'Big' with Tom Hanks. I thought, 'Oh, OK, what if we do something like that but not like that. Something more modern, with a different perspective, and maybe with an all-black cast.'

Your girl gets a lot of anxiety. It's OK. It's a learning process.

I want to get to the point where I can retire at 21, and my whole family is proud of me. That's the goal in everything that I do.

My goal is to show young women and girls that our voices and ideas matter, and you are never too young to dream big!

I wanted other people to see what's in my mind as a young 14-year-old girl because sometimes, when men - or just older people - try to make films from what they think is a kid's perspective, it doesn't come out the right. It's like, 'Ehhh, that's probably not what we would do!'

I hope that we always have diversity, that we have equality and representation every step of the way.

I don't miss public school.

I feel like fame can get into people's head, and you always hear that child actors are doing this, or parents are making their kids do that. I feel like, since we're kids, we have an imagination where we can do whatever we want at any time and if that it is their passion, they will tell you.

Believe in yourself. Push to your highest limit.

That's the point I'm trying to get across in 'Little': Kids can do anything, and that's how adults need to see things, too.

My parents always told me I could do anything, so I never had limits on what I could or couldn't do.