Quotes from Yvonne Orji

I have immigrant, African parents. They would say, in their Nigerian accents, 'So you want to be a jester?' And I was like, 'I don't want to be a court jester, Ma. I want to be a comedian.'

For me, staying ready has always been, like, the preparations: do the behind-the-scenes or do what you think that's not sexy that nobody will see, but when they do see it, it's like, 'Oh, snap... what she's doing on her own, we'll add to that, and it'll blow up.'

As strong as we are, we have our moments. My mama is an African woman who had four kids and was a nurse for 25 years, and she had her moments. I've seen her cry.

It's only in acting where I've heard in auditions, 'Can you black it up a little bit? Can you make her a little bit more urban?' And it's just like, 'What?' I don't even know the word for that.

Sometimes you're just regular. Sometimes you wake up, and your breath stinks like everybody else, and you had a bad hair day.

There are different types of experiences, and all of them are valid, and all of them deserve to be portrayed in a real way.

I'll probably always opt for makeup because I just like the way it feels. You can play with it and create different looks, and I think that's fun. But I also want the option to not need it.

I took organic chemistry, and I got my first-ever F. I ended up going to summer school, and the whole time, I'm thinking, 'I am not good at sciences.'

I like things to happen organically.

Getting into comedy was difficult for my parents to comprehend. I think now they are really proud I stuck to it.

For me, I just stuck to school. I thought you can't be bullied and dumb, so books and I will be friends.

Some people just don't subscribe to labels.

My faith - as well as my Nigerian culture - really gave me the substance and foundation to be who I desire to be in life.

We didn't grow up with TV as a viable means of supporting yourself.

I always say my Christianity and my virginity don't limit options. I think that they refine my options.

I came to America when I was six. In true African form, my parents wanted me to be a doctor or lawyer or engineer.

Sometimes you have to experience things for yourself to learn the lessons that you need to learn.