Quotes About Representation

I wish I had gone to Cannes with a film, but I had gone there for L'Oreal Pakistan. I cannot tell you the people that I was around, from Helen Mirren to Jane Fonda. It was a proud moment on the red carpet when they announced my name and said 'Mahira Khan from Pakistan.'

And I think I might be one of the first, if not the first, drag queens, in drag, to ever walk down the red carpet at the Oscars. And I hope that means something to somebody out there, because it means something to me.

We need to redefine what a hero looks like.

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 want the image of disabled people like myself to change into a picture of strength. Fashion needs to redefine its idea of beauty and have more of an open mind.

Growing up, my favorite movies were 'Forrest Gump,' 'Shawshank Redemption,' 'Gladiator' - none of them really had Asian leading men.

A few states have taken redistricting out of the hands of partisans and put them in the hands of fair-minded committees. Every state should do the same.

Redistricting is one of the purest actions a legislative body can take.

Redistricting and a broken, polarized Congress have made it tough to be a moderate in Congress.

The idea that you can dress up in some kind of a fake Indian outfit and get on stage is somehow acceptable in this country. That has to do with the fact that you have the Redskins, the Braves, you have people who dress up like Indians, people dress up like Indians on Halloween. That is acceptable.

The odds of having films made which star women... Everyone still references one movie: 'Bridesmaids!'

I grew up watching cinema in my country that wasn't telling stories about us, and we had to find a way to connect, and our references, our role models had nothing to do with us. And I'm so glad that it's changing.

I actually don't believe in governance by referendum. I believe that we have a democracy, that we elect people to make decisions.

To be frank, I am confused. If an actress does a cameo dance sequence, it is often referred to as an item number, if an actor does the same, it is just a dance number!

What's historically been referred to as 'gerrymandering' can more aptly be labeled an incumbent protection program.

It felt amazing to be one of a handful working female directors in Hollywood.

A week before shooting, they told me, You don't have the part, yet. We're still trying to find a handicapped kid who can act. Either that or we break your legs.

Choosing a name for a band is always a difficult thing, and I don't think people should read too much into a name because, after all, it's just a handle. It doesn't mean anything.

It's all a matter of how agents want to handle their clients.

There are so many shows that are 'white,' and we wanted to talk about how two really delusional, cliche white girls handle racial issues.

When you get a bunch of Latinxs together, we get to handle our stories. A cultural shorthand happens.

There are obviously issues in our industry. That starts at the top with studio execs who - not just men - don't believe a woman could handle a huge franchise or big action movie.

The New Gods really need to be larger than life. There's an operatic quality to them, and they need to be handled pretty carefully, or else you'll go too far and be almost like a caricature.

I'm hands-on with everything. I approve the designs of everything we do because that's my brand that people are buying. I want it to look good.