To even be a working entertainer in Hollywood is such a rare privilege.
When I first moved to L.A., I went walking down the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and I would tell myself, 'One day, I'm going to have my own star.'
The ladder of success in Hollywood is usually a press agent, actor, director, producer, leading man; and you are a star if you sleep with each of them in that order. Crude, but true.
I tell people, 'It's just like a cliche, but it's true: In Hollywood, dreams can come true.'
I'm from a small town in North Carolina and went to a small college and didn't think that someone like me could make a living in L.A. doing comedy. I worked hard, especially in college, but at that age, you don't know what's next.
I was in L.A., like, four months, and I got my first part. Then I was like, 'OK, I'm staying.'
When I got to Hollywood, at first I couldn't get a lot of jobs. So I grew a beard and look like a really bad Arab, and I started to get a lot of work because that's what they want.
I think when I started acting, the whole time I was working towards one day coming to America. Hollywood, in particular, is seen to be the center of this industry, and I was just waiting for the right time to come.
My only ambition when I came to Hollywood was to pay my rent.
I'd love to win an Oscar; that would be great. I hope to get a feature film that I've made get a wide release. I'm not sure that's ever going to happen.
I am a girl from Cleveland, Ohio, that never thought she would be in Hollywood!
L.A. is a long shot city, and those who make that shot - you can tell. You can see very clearly who's made it and who hasn't.
When you get to Hollywood, you have to start from zero, whatever you've done before.
