Trevante Rhodes

I was really squeamish growing up - not too fond of blood and guts.

I enjoy learning about other people. I really didn't understand that until 'Moonlight.'

As actors and directors, I feel like our job, more so than anything else, is to shine a light on a subject and to let people know that they're not alone.

To me, acting used to be just, 'Get my face out there, get girls, make a little bit of money, make my mom proud.' It was just like sports. But there were moments in 'Moonlight' that I really felt like I had to know why he is the way he is. Or just people in general - why this person walks around with a frown on their face instead of a smile.

I'm the way I am now because I was bullied when I was the lanky, gangly, skinny kid. I was the guy who would flick everybody off, and my middle finger was this skinny, long stick. I got picked on because of that.

Within my second month of being in L.A., I booked my first audition. It was, like, a co-star on a show called 'Gang Related.' I got cut out of it.

For me, I coin Austin as being kind of a baby brother to L.A. Because it's pretty much the same thing; L.A. is just amplified to the nth degree.

If we can fathom stripping away sexual orientation, skin color, sex, we're all the exact same: We just want connection. We just want love.

The question people ask me all the time is, 'How was it playing a gay character? How was it pretending to love a man?' And I don't mean to be abrasive, but that's just the stupidest question in the world to me. To assume there is a difference is ignorance. You're born a certain way. I was born loving women. I could have been born loving men.

I'm a cinephile. I love foreign films; I love films that are really immersive.

As for what I look for, I don't know any other way to put it, but I look for truth, and honesty, because that's something that's few and far between. And obviously, someone who takes care of herself physically. But truth, honesty, and love, that's what's most important. Oh, and someone who can vibe to some jazz. Because I love jazz music a lot.

I always loved watching films. I've always been active, pretending I was a Power Ranger or a Ninja Turtle. I remember watching 'Toy Story.' I think that was one of my first movies.