I don't take roles I can't respect. If I can't find a reason to be respectful of the character, I won't do it because I couldn't do it justice.

I had a wonderful father, and I couldn't bear that television virtually ignored black fathers.

I ruffle a lot of feathers. And I'm also selective - that makes you a troublemaker. But so be it. I laid a cornerstone for black actors, and that makes me happy.

I don't play Hollywood maids, the hee-hee kind of people who are so in love with their madam's children they have no time for their own.

Investors do not like losing money. They do not like companies that fail. They do not like entrepreneurs that fail. There is not a culture of celebrating failure in Silicon Valley or anyplace else. That is a myth. Recognize this, and if you start another business, get it to a successful point before approaching outside investors again.

I think we should focus more, rather than less, on mobilising the middle classes. They often have a bit of time and money to contribute to change.

I'm not led by money, because if that's the case, I can throw my name on everything and have a million-dollar company.

If more people got involved with their local schools, if more companies donated money, a lot of the problems that are plaguing our schools and our youth would disappear.