America Ferrera

“Early in my career, I was really spoiled with a beautiful project. I got such a good start that I thought, 'Why would I ever take a step back?' Why would I take on something that wasn't meaningful - to me, if nobody else - and powerful and groundbreaking?”

“I struggled with being a Latino growing up in Los Angeles. I felt very American. I still do. I went to 35 bar mitzvahs before I went to a single quinceanera. I could talk all day about my culture and what it means to me.”

“I am trying to be guided by my passion.”

“If I learned anything from Betty coming into my life, it's to just be open to all the things that come along.”

“The first time I landed in New York and got a cab to my hotel, I was completely struck by it: a feeling of life and chaos, 24 hours around the clock, just like in London. And whatever your problem is, it's insignificant. You're just a small part of something very big.”

“I could have easily been too afraid to say 'yes' to Chicago, because it requires so much I haven't done before. If I am a flop at singing and dancing, maybe my love for it will carry me through.”

“I just wanted to see every single musical I could. The very first one I saw was 'Beauty and the Beast,' the only one I could get tickets for, and then 'Les Miserables' and then 'Chicago.'”

“I am incredibly, incredibly fortunate about the opportunities I've had. But at the same time, I've had plenty of opportunities to screw it up, too. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is 'No...' and not feel the need to do everything. It's about doing what rings true to me.”

“I was an open, smiley and gregarious child. I could make friends in 30 seconds wherever I went.”

“I really hate the duties of being a celebrity, like getting dressed up for the red carpet.”

“What I would say is that vows and rings don't change anything: the challenges are the same. Every day is just a conscious commitment to making the next day better.”

“My siblings are my best friends.”

“When my mother was born on 14 April, he named her after a Latin American holiday, the Day of Americas, that nobody knew about. My due date also happened to be 14 April.”

“I was one of six kids in a single-parent household.”

“When you finish a series like 'Ugly Betty,' there are so many voices around you telling you what you should be doing next and what would be good for your future, sometimes you can't hear yourself. I've gotten pretty good at tuning everyone else out. Now it's just me; what pleases me creatively.”

“It would be impossible to be a woman in Western culture and not have your own issues about your image and what you look like.”

“My parents were both Spanish-speakers and they used to speak to me and my siblings in Spanish and we'd answer them in English.”

“Finding the one is not just a feeling, it's an educated guess. I feel like I chose someone to share my life with who is my friend.”

“Nowadays I'd describe myself as earnest, terribly earnest. I'm the person who wants everybody in the room to feel important and happy.”

“I just want to be in my sweats, walk my dog, watch TV and eat pizza.”