Zawe Ashton

“I've had times in the past where I wanted to give up acting, get my head out of the arts because it was like my constitution couldn't deal with it. My job means I get judged on my looks; I get discriminated against because of my sex; I take on roles that are so two-dimensional... you can go mad trying to fill that third dimension.”

“I've never lived in north or west London, so I'd like to come out of my comfort zone for a bit. But Stoke Newington is where my heart is, it's where I'm born and bred.”

“Being yourself, or being judged as yourself, is really scary.”

“One of the first plays I ever did was at the Royal Court Theatre in London; it was the first play I got after drama school.”

“I've had doors slammed in my face, I've been shouted at in my face in meetings when I've stood up for myself.”

“I wanted to quit acting and as soon as I decided that, the call for 'Velvet Buzzsaw' came through.”

“I love the visual medium of film and TV. I love the science of it, working with the sound and the lighting and every aspect.”

“I got into a habit really early about not talking about work, ever.”

“Patsy Ferran in Tennessee Williams' 'Summer and Smoke'-I thought that was just one of the most phenomenal performances I've seen from a young woman.”

“Art should be for everyone, not just the rich.”

“I prefer to avoid the phrase 'strong women' when talking about female characters and the lack thereof or the need therefore, because it's not about being strong, it's also about being vulnerable, funny etc.”

“I always play outsiders. I think I'm carrying a lot of those characters and I wonder if I play them because those characters need an extra element of thought to bring them to life.”

“When I'm doing a play like 'Betrayal,' I have to be careful not to get stimulation overload.”

“I do think about moving out of London a lot, whether that's L.A., whether that's Margate with half of the other Hackneyites.”

“When you work in film sets, when you're working on projects that are male dominated, you are always treated as the last priority.”

“I don't want to be 'de-ethnicised.' I hate it when people say, 'Oh I don't even think of you as a woman,' or, 'I don't even think of you as a black woman.' Well what do you think of me as then? A loaf of bread?”

“I think I've always felt that I want to do a very specific type of work and I've made informed decisions. You know, hopefully be part of a quiet movement or revolution.”

“I plan on having a long career. I don't want to burn out.”

“The widespread shame of motherhood is criminal, and it needs to stop. The world can never improve if you disrespect the people that bring life.”

“I've always acted, it's my passion and belief system.”