I was born to be on the stage.
Rutina Wesley
I always have my Beats by Dr. Dre headphones turned up high. I'll probably be deaf by age 50.
My legs are actually my favorite feature.
It's really maddening out there for dark-skinned actresses in terms of the opportunities we get. There's just so much talent that is being overlooked.
Comic-Con is so much fun.
Musicals are my favorite. I'm a musical theater buff.
'True Blood' allows you to be big, so it's almost like you're on stage, and I'm comfortable with that.
I'm all about the crossover. The role doesn't necessarily have to be white or Latina or black. It could be anything. But it's hard in Hollywood, because sometimes it's all about the box office. Or all about looks and things like that. It's not about the story that they have to tell.
I was a very driven young person.
When I got into high school, my favorite artist was definitely Janet Jackson.
I could be ordering ham at the deli, and someone will turn around and look at me and kind of stare. They'll just look at me like, 'I know I know your voice, and I know I know your face.'
When you're not working is when you have to stay positive and remind yourself that you're talented.
I was born and raised in Las Vegas, and then I left there to go to the University of Evansville where I majored in theatre.
Dance is in my background.
I came out of the womb dancing.
I love 'Flashdance.' I thought it was so cool!
At Julliard, they don't teach you where to move your face for the camera, you know?
I've always loved who I loved, and it never mattered to me where they were from. That's how it should be: wherever your heart tells you to go, you go.
The theatre at my school was awesome. It was a 1,400-seat auditorium, so, being in that auditorium at 17, and having, like, 1,400 people cheer for you was, like, one of the most amazing feelings that I've ever felt, energy-wise. It just felt right.
I still see myself on TV and think, 'Oh my God, I'm on a television, and there are millions of people watching,' and I get really nervous and embarrassed and insecure.
For me, I have this tough exterior and these Angela Bassett arms, and people think, 'Oh, my God, Rutina's tough.'
I want to do parts that are outside of the box.
I love to be a vessel through which characters can come through. And if I can move an audience with my work, then I've done my job.
Every morning, I'm visited by hummingbirds. I think it's nice, but maybe they're planning an attack?
I always tell other young actors to go to school, or at least watch movies to learn as much as you can.
Kristin Bauer is so funny. Half the time I'm working with her I'm just trying to keep a straight face.
I'm in a comic book now. That was cool. That's something that I'm still sorta reeling about, 'cause I read comics as a kid. Someone drew me, and actually did a pretty good job!
That's an actor's dream to get something meaty and juicy and challenging to work on.
I really love Adina Porter.
My grandmother is very liberal, but... she still has her opinions.
Who has ownership over stories these days?
I'd like to do a romantic comedy like 'Notting Hill,' which is one of my favorite movies.
I'd love to do another film version of 'Romeo & Juliet.' I'm not too picky as long as it's a good story.
When I studied at Juilliard, I did a lot of pushups and became this diesel machine. I was really big and was like, 'This is not a good look for an ingenue.'
You know, it cuts both ways... no one wants to lose a job, but everybody wants to work.
If I'm going to be honest with you, when I trained at school, I feel like I was training to be a chameleon. I want to be that versatile actor who can do anything - that's why you learn fifty different dialects, you do Shakespeare, you do commedia, you do it all so that if any job comes your way, you should be able to do it.
I usually love to go bowling when I'm in Vegas. There's something about Vegas and bowling, do you know what I mean? You know what I mean. Bowling is just the thing to do.
Staying in Vegas would've been too easy for me.
I don't have an 'actor cry.'
My body is a reflection of how grateful I am for my life and my health; there are a lot of people less fortunate than me.
It wouldn't be 'True Blood' if somebody didn't die.
If vampires and werewolves were walking around today, there would be chaos. People would be losing their minds.
I worked as a singing, dancing busgirl in high school.
I'm a sneaker head. You'll find more sneakers than heels in my closet.
I grew up with a wide range of music.
People can be really mean - they say the most vicious things.
Viola Davis should be a household name. So should Angela Bassett.
I love Charles Fuller.
I always try to make sure that I stay connected to theater so I continue to be inspired. Not that I'm not inspired by television.
Doing a play is so fulfilling. Words cannot describe how I feel when I finish doing a play.
