Quotes from Octavia Spencer

I just know that the one thing that we all have in common is challenges. No one lives a challenge free life.

Being a part of a large family is just like a little society: those who fight to the top of the heap. We relied on each other and still do. They never discouraged me or told me to get a proper job.

There are fewer and fewer roles that I haven't done already, or archetypes that I haven't played, and to break out of that box, the most interesting stuff is television.

When we don't have all the details about our characters, we have to make it up to fill in all the details. So, for me, writing and acting go hand in hand.

Do I feel that white directors have to tell only white stories? No. Do I feel that black filmmakers should only tell stories about black people? No. If we say that, then that means Asian people cannot write about anybody but Asians. I don't think a woman should only write about women.

What's so great about DreamWorks is that it's run by filmmakers who believe that if it's not broke, don't fix it.

The college years are when you sow all your wild oats and become a vampire. By 40, you've lived it up. At least, you hope.

I'm probably the most militant person you'll ever meet and I speak my mind without provocation sometimes.

I will live in TV Land watching 'Columbo.' I also like my 'Forensic Files,' all of that true crime.

I'm not a fan of 'Gone With the Wind.' I didn't like the movie. I didn't like the book.

The statement that I made and that I think I will continue to make is that racism and bigotry isn't just relegated to the Southern region; it permeates the history of our nation. It's not to say that we haven't made progress. Obviously we have with our first African American president, and I never thought that would happen in my lifetime.

There are so many more women and men who deserve opportunities. People of color. Period.

I feel for the overly thin women as I do for the overweight women.

As a kid, I was always very thin, and I kind of didn't know that I was skinny.

I have experienced loss in my life, but the thing that brings you back is your faith.

Because we all come from different circumstances, our life experiences really color how we view things.

I think success happens when it's supposed to and when you can appreciate it. I am grateful that it didn't happen for me at 22 or 23. I would've been foolish enough to think that we're all entitled to it, instead of it being the divine blessing that it is.

I gravitate to the roles, not necessarily television or film. It's just the fact that, for me, the most interesting roles have been in television.

I gravitate to whatever looks good on me and whatever maakes me feel sexy.

I have a great team at WME.

'Grey's Anatomy' is a very culturally diverse show.

The fact that women are very young in obtaining their civil rights and African-Americans are young in obtaining their civil rights, I think it's about time that we extend that to all Americans, whether straight, gay, purple, green, black, brown.

I'm thrilled I got to work with James Ponsoldt, who is going to make his mark on this industry.

I'll say that I don't think you can throw a stone and not come in contact with someone who knows someone or has problems with substance abuse.