Naturi Naughton

“When I was coming up, we didn't have the movement of Black Girl Magic or Black Girls Rock, but my parents made it their business to make sure I saw positive images of myself and celebrated images of black women.”

“I definitely want my career to continue to branch out. I've had the pleasure of working in different areas of entertainment, from being in the music business as a teenager in a girl group to doing Broadway for three years in 'Hairspray,' and also doing TV and film.”

“Growing up, all my friends used to say 'Naturi, you are so dramatic!' and I would think to myself, 'Thank you!'”

“I was a cheerleader in high school, but I love to play basketball.”

“A lot of people don't know, but I love soul food. I love fried chicken and pork chops, all of that.”

“I love Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, and The Supremes, because I'm kind of old-school at heart.”

“If I think something is wrong, I'm going to say it.”

“I think a lot of young people don't realize the price of fame is a lot higher than they imagine.”

“Singers have a lot in common with actors because you have to dig deep into a song and show the audience what you are feeling as you sing.”

“Oh, you know, I think it was definitely a little pressure, to remake something like 'Fame'.”

“I want to be back on Broadway one day. That's a dream of mine. There's nothing like live theater, and I think it's so important for me to be able to be on stage with an audience that responds.”

“I want to do stories that inspire people.”

“Starz is a network that's going for the content that's extremely honest and pushing the envelope and is provocative.”

“My whole life has been about working and being in the girl group and being on stage and being an actress, but now I get to really enjoy a bigger purpose, which is motherhood, so I'm really excited.”

“I was excited to play Lil' Kim and I wanted to do the role justice. I worked really hard on that role, whether it was performing the rhymes, studying the dialect, her swagger and her stage performances. I wanted people to see my range and stretch my wings as an actress.”

“I love to write music and poetry.”

“I'm a true singer who grew up singing in church, so I love singing my heart out.”

“Starting in music, where I get a chance to connect with the lyrics of a song, I learned so much about performing on stage and connecting to your audience and to what you're singing about. Singing is very emotional. Every song has its own purpose.”