To take a job just so I can go on a fancy vacation doesn't really seem worth it.

I was a kid who didn't have a lot of self-esteem.

I'll audition for something and then the feedback has been, 'The director wants you, the creative people want you, but the studio is saying no.' It's depressing, but I understand. People are investing a lot of money and they want somewhat of a guarantee; they want someone who's been on the cover of magazines.

For a while, I was only being sent fat-girl parts. Seriously? Sometimes I feel like I'm making some kind of radical statement because I'm a size 6.

Early in my career, having many visible tattoos created obstacles and presented quite a challenge to move forward. I've heard comments like, 'actors don't have tattoos.' The notion of typecasting was a reoccurring theme despite my passion toward creativity and personal expression.

I wanted a real profession. And I'd always been interested in architecture and in design and in, really, what makes things work. And understanding what's kind of behind the walls and why things stand up and some things don't.

Women, whatever their profession, tend to have a harder time feeling ready for a job, even though in most cases they are more than prepared.

My career means, if you're a non-Indian writing about Indians, at least there's one Indian in your rearview mirror.