Noma Dumezweni

“For me, you could say my big West End debut was 'Cursed Child,' but I'm in my 40s, and it's like, 'When is that beginning?'”

“I am very blessed to have this experience of being a parent, but do not negate me from this industry because I am a parent.”

“I moved to London, and it's a cliche to say that London is a melting pot, but it's true - I didn't stand out anymore.”

“I did fringe theatre for so many years, and then I got my first play at the RSC, which was an amazing feeling, but I was 30 and had started acting in my early twenties.”

“I tried twice to get into drama school and didn't, so I worked my way up through the fringe.”

“I have been that actor who's watched peers and thought, 'God, they're doing well. I'll never get there.'”

“I remember, being young is a scary, wonderful feeling.”

“We're storytellers - and if the story is told well, you go with the form.”

“I don't do the victim mode. I don't do blame. I can't bear that.”

“In your 20s and 30s, everything is possible. But then, sooner than you think, men walk past you in the street and don't look twice at you unless you're wearing a fabulous outfit.”

“To acknowledge the beginnings of people is a beautiful thing.”

“My mum's a single mum, I'm a single mum, and you do find yourself rushing around just to make sure everything's all right.”