Quotes from Gabourey Sidibe

One of my personal plights in this business is about playing 'The Sassy Black Girl.'

All my life, people have made fun of the way I speak. I guess because a lot of my vocabulary is made up of things that other people say. I started making fun of them and imitating them and now that's how I speak.

I could have easily never worked again after 'Precious.' I could be back at my receptionist job and no one would be surprised, but I'm having a very crazy little career that no one thought would happen. Although that was never the plan.

I don't know any teenager with a positive attitude.

I wanted to be a psychologist. You know, I thought that's what I'd be doing and it just goes to show you that, if you tell God your plans, He will laugh in your face.

I have a nice smile, pretty lips, and big round cheeks. They help me look like a teenager.

It's so weird to turn on a switch and be the role model for all women, for all African-Americans. That doesn't happen that easily. It just doesn't. And so I don't act up in public and I don't do anything weird - because my sisters are watching me, not because the world is watching me.

One day I decided that I was beautiful, and so I carried out my life as if I was a beautiful girl. I wear colors that I really like, I wear makeup that makes me feel pretty, and it really helps. It doesn't have anything to do with how the world perceives you. What matters is what you see.

Well, I was a big fan of the book and therein a huge fan of the girl Precious. And so I felt like I knew this girl. I felt like I'd grown up alongside her. I felt like she was in my family. She was my friend and she was like people I didn't want to be friends with.

The thing about Precious, she's so far from a Hollywood character. She's so honest and real, I definitely felt like I knew her.

I didn't want to be an actress at all, or famous even. I certainly enjoy acting now, absolutely. Time will tell whether or not I enjoy fame.

One day I decided that I was beautiful, and so I carried out my life as if I was a beautiful girl.

I live my life because I dare. I dare to show up when everyone else might hide their faces and hide their bodies in shame.

My Plan A was to be a psychologist. I thought I would be a receptionist. I'm always middle of the road and very normal. I've always wanted a normal life, and this is what I got.

If they hadn't tried to break me down, I wouldn't know that I'm unbreakable.

I complain about my life. I used to complain about boys or not being able to drive or failing a test. Now I complain about boys, not being able to drive, and leaving home so much.

My goal was just to live a good life that I was happy with. And I wasn't exactly sure that that meant being the star of a movie.

While 'Precious' isn't a real person, it's someone's story, and it's too many peoples' story.

I'm just a girl from Harlem who ended up in the right place at the right time.

When it's time to film and to actually take on the role of Precious, I felt an immense responsibility to do it justice.

I can flip my tongue over. Only one in 10,000 people can. I learned that at Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Hollywood, that whole industry, is a lot like a really small town. You bump into the same people all the time. I think Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon can be played with anyone and everyone in Hollywood.

I learned to love myself, because I sleep with myself every night and I wake up with myself every morning, and if I don't like myself, there's no reason to even live the life.

I love the way I look. I'm fine with it. And if my body changes, I'll be fine with that.