JURNEE SMOLLETT

When I was younger, I really struggled with confidence.

There are so many people who will try and make you feel like your opinion doesn't matter, and I've learned how important it is to use your voice.

I just live my life. I go where I feel God is calling me.

I try to give each performance my own soul, to bring a truth to my character. Hopefully, when I bring that much truth to a character, it resonates with somebody, and it sparks some kind of emotion in them.

Never let anyone silence your voice.

I don't really think about the critics or the commercial success.

I like sitting down and watching games.

I love music, and I love drumlines. I like school bands a lot. There's nothing wrong with cheerleading, but I'd rather be a band geek. It's a little more interesting.

Everyone has a past, but I try not to let that affect the way I see them; I want to get to know who they are today.

I come from a family of four brothers, so I like sports.

You go through those awkward, dorky, geeky stages, and growing up in the industry amplifies all that. Fortunately, I have a mother who encouraged me to build my confidence from within and embrace my imperfections.

My best advice would be that you have to be vulnerable with each other. Like, everyone says you have to be honest, you have to communicate; like, yes, of course, but you gotta be willing to be vulnerable.

Vanessa Williams in person is like... the camera cannot capture how gorgeous this woman is! She is just so breathtaking.

I am oftentimes the ear for some people that I know and love. Which I like being. I don't know if I'd like being a marriage counselor, though, because that's too deep for me.

I have so many passions outside of my passion for acting.

I'm a grandma at heart.

My little brothers loved baseball. I'm not as big on that as basketball or football, but I understand the game.

As an artist, you want to stretch. That's the only way you're going to grow. If I stay inside my comfort zone, do roles that I've done before, then I'm never going to get better as an actress.

My mom bought me an 'Anne of Green Gables' journal. And I just remember thinking it was so cool, and I could write anything in it.

I wouldn't be able to tackle a character like Rosalee on 'Underground' without having tackled the many characters I've played before.

The real trendsetters are the ones who rebel. Those are the ones who everyone in fashion eventually follows.

I walk in a space of gratitude. I'm so grateful to God for blessing me with an amazing family and the opportunity to do what I love.

Far too often, I read a script where the girls are the girlfriend or the set dressing.

I'm told I'm a statistic. I'm told that my young black sisters are disease-ridden... but we are greater than what society tells us we are.

The slave narratives, there is a wealth of research there, because you are hearing stories from the first person account, and that's a whole different thing than reading about it in the history books. You're able to really personalize it.