“I had an unfortunate scenario where somebody wanted me to lie about my ethnicity to get a role. … Acting is such an emotional and vulnerable thing, and it creates an atmosphere that allows for self-doubt. … There are a lot of nos in this business, and you have to be really stubborn. I've always had this fast-track mindset that's allowed me to look past the nos and go after anything that I put my mind to with every fiber of my being.”