Simone Missick

“You can only be as strong as those around you and the people I work with are just phenomenal.”

“It was always this idea in our household about looking out for the little person and people who are being trampled by a system, not just within the justice system but within housing discrimination and improperly federally funded schools and health disparities.”

“I did a little bit of theater when I was in high school outside of my high school. I was focused more on sports and playing the violin.”

“We do not give people in this country that are not wealthy the best opportunity to succeed.”

“With every character it's interesting. If you play Macbeth, people have seen and read Shakespeare and see dozens of actors play that role. In their mind they've got that Macbeth at the Royal Shakespeare Company and that Macbeth on 43rd Street in New York City.”

“For so long I was a struggling artist. I felt like I had my faith, family and health together, but not my career.”

“Luke Cage' is something completely new.”

“The success of 'Luke Cage' breaking Netflix was the reason why we have 'Black Panther' and why we have 'Black Lightning,' 'Cloak & Dagger,' and all of these shows that are popping that represent this reinvigoration of people's love and interest in black superheroes.”

“To be able to have my natural hair on TV, that will encourage so many more women who wear their hair natural who are told it's not professional enough. I think it's encouraging to all women to be who you are.”

“There's that thing where every actor is like, 'I want to be the lead' and I certainly had that written on my vision boards every, single year.”

“Not often do people say, 'Here is a dream role with a great character, and a great cast and crew.' That never happens.”

“Typically, when I'm acting on set, I rely so much on the non-verbal: body language and all the unsaid things that make a connection feel real and alive.”

“I have an aunt who was a detective in D.C. for over 25 years, and I always wondered how she was able to do that, and why she chose that profession.”

“Sometimes the challenge is physical. 'Luke Cage' was a very physical role, 'Altered Carbon' was a very physical role.”

“I always was very aware of the concept of injustice and inequality and how the financial disparities that exist within our country affect people's ability to thrive and to fully take part in what we call the American dream.”

“My desire is that I'm not an addendum to someone else's story.”

“I look at some of the amazing actors that we celebrate today, who are leading their own shows and movies and writing and directing their own projects, and producing their own projects. Many of them had full careers on the stage, and as day players or in one-liner roles. And then they got their break.”

“As an actor you have to have the room to play and find the character.”

“For an actor, that's exciting, to not know exactly where things are going to go next and to also be able to deal with things that are so present.”

“People are thirsty to see themselves a magical way and in a fantastical way.”