Growing up, all my friends used to say 'Naturi, you are so dramatic!' and I would think to myself, 'Thank you!'

One of my biggest inspirations growing up was Whitney Houston, so I was devastated to hear about her passing. I'm from East Orange, New Jersey, and started singing at New Hope Baptist Church, so she was like my fellow Jersey girl.

I think sometimes if you let it all hang out, it makes you a target.

I was excited to play Lil' Kim and I wanted to do the role justice. I worked really hard on that role, whether it was performing the rhymes, studying the dialect, her swagger and her stage performances. I wanted people to see my range and stretch my wings as an actress.

I'm lucky that I've never been bullied personally. There are always going to be kids who are mean and say stuff, but the people that matter to you - the people you love, like your parents, your siblings, and your friends - those are the people you should listen to.

Talking with my friends and family every day helps keep me grounded and connected to home. They are the most important things to me.

My entire family, we were obsessed with 'Glee,' so when I got an audition, I was freaking out. But I knew exactly what to do, I had watched the show so many times.

The Italians always made good wine, but you had the impression they were friendly guys in straw hats running family vineyards with slaves or something so that the vino was never more than ten bucks a bottle.