I seek out hard things. I tried to imitate other singers. It was a self-discovery for me to move from imitating others to me growing to sing in my own voice. The opera was difficult and it felt like a personal conquest.

I faced a certain amount of violence. It taught me that I had to learn to protect myself - and it made me stronger. It could have made me step backwards with my self-discovery. Instead, it pushed me further.

I feel that art deals with issues way before any political organisation.

I wanted to be a woman, first. And then singer. And then actress. For me, to me it's not as important what you do so much as who you are.