Quotes from Shannon Purser

I feel that responsibility to really be authentic with people because I think that's what they deserve, especially in a time when it's very easy for people in the public eye to sort of cultivate an image.

I was into this one guy that was like, punk and cool and rock 'n roll. So I went out and bought black high top Converse.

I was about 15 when I decided that acting was what I wanted to pursue professionally.

Mental health affects every aspect of your life. It's not just this neat little issue you can put into a box.

I do think technology really has changed the way that we communicate with each other and texting can be the way to communicate and to kind of get up the nerve to say things that maybe you wouldn't say in real life, but that also comes with a price.

I certainly hope that we will get more women in power, when it comes to executives and producers and directors, because the problem is not a shortage of females who are qualified to do the job. It's just that women are not favoured or chosen.

The '80s weren't perfect and people made some questionable fashion choices but in terms of music and movies, it was revolutionary and wonderful.

As I got into high school I sort of came into my own and gained some confidence and, luckily, wasn't really bullied by others.

Some of the best relationships I had in high school were not romantic - they were with my best girlfriends.

I was diagnosed with OCD and depression, and that was a huge relief, because now my struggles had a name and could be reckoned with. With a combination of therapy and medication, I got better. I learned to love life again. My problems didn't go away, but they became much easier to face.

It's incredible, but I will sing the praises of therapy. I think everybody should be in therapy. It helps so much to have somebody educated you can talk to.

You never think about someone dressing up as you for Halloween.

There's this book that I love called 'Eleanor & Park.' It's an incredible story about these two misfit kids who fall in love. I've loved that book for years and I'd be so thrilled if I got to be in an adaptation of that.

Such a big part of acting is getting your face out there and getting recognized.

The idea that I get to kind of redefine what is beautiful and whose story deserves to be told and showcase that you know, big women have love lives and complex colorful lives like everybody else, that's really important to me.

I'm a real homebody, I don't do a whole lot.

I grew up in a house with all girls, so I'm used to having a lot of hormones around that can create craziness.

It's just as important to be a good human being as it is to be a good actor.

I think we take our friends for granted a lot in high school. We're so busy worrying about our own problems that we ignore the fact that we have these people who are supporting us and taking care of us like all the time.

I would definitely love to see a queer rom-com because representation matters. It does so much to help normalize things in the mind of society.

Sierra' is me being a plus-size woman.

I've been singing since I was a little kid, but 'Sierra' was my first time singing on camera, which was definitely intimidating at first.

It's movies like 'Love, Simon' that are so pivotal because it's this sweet rom-com that you would watch about a straight couple, but it's two guys. It feels natural and real and just charming. I would love to see more movies like that.

I think once I kind of got to a place of self-acceptance, looking past all the insecurities that I have, I've really grown so much as a person.