Quotes from Dania Ramirez

I grew up with very little. I remember vividly using buckets of water to shower.

For me, when my agents and reps send me a script, I read it through, just for the story purpose of it, and then I read it again to think of my character and see if it's something that I'm interested in bringing to life.

Cinderella is a little edgy and a little rough around the edges.

I will always be the first Latina Cinderella, so I always have that to take with me, and I'm very proud of that. I believe that it was a life-changing experience for me.

The love of my life found me! That's how he would say it, anyway, since he claims he was attracted to my energy before I even turned around.

I'm an entertainer, not a politician.

Growing up the way that I did - I grew up with a lot of cousins - you just have this imagination, and I love going and telling different stories. I'm a clown.

I think if you have a good attitude and go in with no pressure or expectations, just for a chance to play with all these talented people and do your thing, then it's always a blast!

I love playing Rosie on 'Devious Maids,' and I think that if Rosie would have an NFL team to root for, she would also be a Cleveland Browns fan.

My mom came to America when I was six years old, and I didn't live with them until I was ten. They worked really hard in factories, and my dad as a taxi driver, to be able to afford visas for my sister and I.

I think it is always important to showcase your talent in different ways.

I think very few shows have come into our industry and changed the tempo and the narrative of stories, and 'Once Upon a Time' did that.

I always say a lot of fake friends are the ones I can't get into a fight with, because if I get into a fight with them, it's over.

It was great, because as far as playing such an iconic character that Cinderella is from the Disney world, walking into such a raw and authentic environment - even though it's the real world, and it's Jacinda, it's still Cinderella that's being cursed, and now she's in the real world as Jacinda.

'The Sopranos' was a very East Coast show; 'Heroes' is more organically global.

When I was growing up, I was running around; I was a little tomboy. So I was just running around trying to be an athlete and trying to reenact things from TV, but I wasn't really into reading comic books or anything like that.

My parents moved to the states when I was 6, so I was raised by my grandma in the Dominican Republic and didn't see them again until I was 10.

Being an immigrant gives you so much courage.

I feel I have a responsibility to carry out the immigrant story, since it's one that I hold very dear to my heart, since my story is similar in a lot of ways.

America was built by immigrants. Immigrants come here for work - to contribute and get to a better place. That's my story. It's a story of hope.

My character on 'The Sopranos' was specific to being a single mother and being from Jersey. And being part of that season finale... wow. That show is always going to be world-renowned and iconic.

I think, a lot of times, when you're a first-time mom, you just want to be so careful, and you overanalyze things sometimes. But I think your first instinct as a mother is always right.

When I was young, people would say I was ugly, but I never saw that. I would look in the mirror and say, 'They're idiots. You are so cute!'

I got to work with Sarah Michelle Gellar, and that's the thing that you dream of.