JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON

I got introduced to Shakespeare at four years old, and I fell in love with the language.

Ask me trivia on 'Sex and the City,' and I will know it. I rewatch it every year. Samantha? Charlotte? Those are my girls.

I had family in Carolina who were very hood and talked differently in this sort of Southern cadence.

Movies are magical. It transcends a lot of hate or human faults in real life because of the fantasy of it all.

I had a father who was active, present. There are people out there that never knew their fathers, didn't have their father's support. If I were to complain, that would be real sad. How dare I?

They were very supportive parents in all my endeavors. They have very different approaches on how they give advice.

I've been reluctant in doing press stuff - even my Instagram isn't properly managed; I manage it myself. It's kind of by design. I knew that would be what people see first.

I want to be around people that are just as enthusiastic about the process and storytelling as I am.

I have to keep making films, getting better in my craft, and the way to do that is to work with people who know what they're doing and who can help me.

Of course I've felt racism.

There's men and women out there protecting and serving, doing it the right way, that aren't talked about.

I knew every one of my father's lines in 'Glory' - I broke the VHS tape - but I hid my love of acting to make it as my own man.

The nature of a football team means you're relying on 10 other guys. Even then, that doesn't guarantee a win.

Football helped me with confidence that I needed. It gave me a sense of independence and earning my own money and my own keep. That's what it served. It gave me the strength to be able to deal with rejection, politics, hard work, and being introduced to pain and embracing what's uncomfortable.

Being able to tell people's stories - this is the most exciting job in the world to me.

A Ryan Coogler film? I'm there for it.

I felt a little anxious/nervous representing a real person in a Spike Lee film.

On a Spike Lee set, everybody seems to want to be there and is motivated to work in unison and do the best they can.

Hate has a language, so we have to find a language to combat that.

Spike Lee is a master of tone, so basically, if he wants to do something, he should do it, and Imma listen.

Like acting, undercover detective work requires a lot of performance. There's just more pressure because it's life-or-death situations.

Coming from a football background, when everybody is doing their job and operating on such a high level, it only motivates you to do the same.

There's a bit of me that always feels like, 'What's next? How can I get better?'

Whenever you're feeling moments of discomfort, that means true change is happening for you.

I'm still trying to find the actor I want to be, but I know what kind of the talent I want to be around.