Yvonne Orji

A lot of people have done things in the name of Christianity and religion and faith in a not-so-nice way.

My mom would always say, 'Hair is a woman's beauty.' I cut my hair all off. I was completely bald, and that was, like, 'What in the world?' My mom was like, 'What happened?' She had so many questions.

If you're a woman of colour and you have any level of education, you have to adapt.

How many shows on TV do you see young black people, both women and men, really embody a full-fledged human being, flaws and all?

If I'm home on Wednesdays, I go to Bible study. I get my God time in, definitely.

There's this idea if you are a woman of colour, that you must never let them see you break down. That we've got to show ourselves in the best light, always, as the 'Strong Black Women' and bring that 'black girl magic' all the time.

By the time I got to George Washington University, I had been a straight-A student in high school.

Every time you're on stage, you're acting.

I used to work in public health, and the issues were sustainability, how the funds were being delineated, and if the funds were actually helping the people we think they're helping.

You can't tell me no, because you can't tell Jesus no. It doesn't work.

Don't take it personally if you're met with opposition. Work hard anyway.