Sometimes I wonder if I got lulled into not wanting things because I grew up black in this country.

The worst part is doubt. When you doubt yourself, which we are taught to do, you get lost.

Being as versatile as I am, I take offense to the notion that no serious musician would not be doing a late night talk show gig. One has to be open enough in other areas to be able to contribute to a show like this.

I want someone who is open-minded, dedicated to whatever she is doing and isn't afraid to say I love you. As for looks, she shouldn't have three heads. I want a regular human being.

I haven't deliberately set out to play the blonde bombshell in my movies. In fact, it's probably been quite the opposite. After the success of The Mask, I wasn't offered all that many blonde bombshell parts, to be honest. I think people believed from the beginning that I could actually walk and talk at the same time.

You come out of drama school and do theatre and are interested in creative endeavour, then you drift into TV and movies and realise that artistic endeavour needs to balance with financial success. There's no point spending millions on a movie that doesn't make any money, because the people producing it won't make another one.

I'll tell you, there is nothing better in life than being a late bloomer. I believe that success can happen at any time and at any age.

I am glad I am born in this era, but, at the same time, my success will totally depend on the choices I make.