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Quotes
 Hollywood
needs to recognize all shades of African American beauty.
I
love romantic comedies. They're for me the easiest thing to do and the
most natural to do. There's nothing natural about holding an uzi hanging
out of a moving van shooting at people. That's not second nature to me,
thank God.
I'm
just riding this train as long as I can. As long as I'm having fun, I'll
do it. When it stops being fun, I'll try something else. Maybe I'll open
up a chain of Popeye's Chicken.
I'm
not going to change the world overnight. It's one person at a time, and
hopefully they're people in positions of power who can help people get
in those roles and really, truly embrace colorblind casting.
I
have no problem with that! I'd rather be that than Quasimodo. Or a
method actor.
Thank
God for J-Lo. All of a sudden big asses are de rigueur.
I'm
a Catholic girl from Omaha, and then all of a sudden they spring this
scene on me. Afterwards I had to go to confession. I said, "Forgive
me Father, for I have just bared my ass in front of the world. How many
Hail Marys will it take to absolve me of that!
After
Halle
Berry does her films and Latifah does her films, it's left to all
the black, Latino and Asian actresses to fight over a couple of roles. I
opted for some TV. There just not a ton of work in film.
Halle's
success has come more from blockbusters. But, yes, she is a source of
inspiration. When she makes money, black actors make money.
I
didn't want to act. I thought it was a cheesy profession--but when I was
a junior, I got an internship at a modeling agency. When my internship
ended, they said, 'We'd be interested in representing you.' I was like,
'If you think someone will pay me to be cheesy, sure, whatever!'
I
have the Samuel Jackson mentality, of working as much as possible. I
think about Halle
Berry and Queen Latifah, and they are the only two black actresses
that work consistently. It scares me.
I
like directors who have worked as actors. They know the experience.
I
still hear things like 'Gabrielle, you gave the best read! If we decide
to go black, you're at the top of the list.' I've actually been told,
'Gabrielle, you're absolutely perfect for the role, but the role is a
girl who's most popular in school.' I've been to the point where I
brought in my yearbook. 'See how popular I was? It really can
happen.'
I
want to be Miss USA or Miss America. I would bring the trophy back to
Nebraska. My interests are agriculture and corn. Hey, I'm just riding
this train as long as I can. As long as I'm having fun, I'll do it. When
it stops being fun, I'll try something else. Maybe I'll open up a chain
of Popeye's Chicken.
It
is all that an actress can hope for. The experience was very organic. I
was able to be creative. In comedies, you go for the joke, and
embellish. Action films are about action. They're not about
performances.
The
black community in Hollywood is very small and close-knit. Everyone has
a common goal: to make a two-hour movie in 30 days. We watch each
others' scenes. There is a natural chemistry. You can't have a crazy
diva walking around saying, "As long as I'm lit well . . . Or, I
only care if I do well.
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