"i don't feel too old. I don't even think the word old exists in my vocabulary - you mature and grow up but ageing is about getting closer to who you are."

"Women’s voices matter, they heal, they inspire, they lead."

"I am excited to offer an interpretation to an African female character who could easily be lost in the cracks of society"

"Where fear could have ruled, I chose to focus on being alive."

"We all have a purpose in this world."

"I think when we are born, we all have a journey that is set out for us. My journey was set on this route to be on stage whether it is through acting, singing or dancing."

"The biggest problem we’re facing now is the rise of influencers who are taking up space meant for trained actors."

"My problems were that I wanted something that was deep inside of me and I could not explain it to anybody- nobody could understand. They thought I was a crazy child. ‘What’s wrong with you?’ is what they would say but there was something and when I was finally put on stage, that’s when I would come alive, then I was the happiest child."

"There must be a purpose for doing something or going somewhere because we all have a set timetable and tools that are specific to our personal journeys. You are here because God has a certain task at hand for you. You are the ruler of your purpose."

"Also, making people feel beautiful makes me happy."

"There is something about dresses that makes me feel like a lady. Be it a cute short dress or a long dress. I’m that girl."

"I had to work really hard to remove myself from this box that I was placed in."

"I remember my mother vividly saying, ‘If you don’t send that resignation letter, I will. You are going to resign and follow your dreams. And you better succeed."

"When you are really passionate about something, you will literally fight tooth and nail to get it. And when it isn’t such a passion, it is easier to let go."

"But one thing that I have learned is that there is a lot of rejection and you need to develop a thick skin in this industry."

"No matter how famous or well-known you are, never forget humility. Ubuntu."

"No woman is now forced to compromise their femininity when they present what they do. I was one of the first to do it and I’m so proud of that. But it was a very scary time because you’re walking a space with a lot of resistance."

"Young female are having a hard time establishing themselves in the industry. That is why people will go on to sleep with directors to get a job. I'm glad I was in a position to know that I have talent and the qualification to back me and that is enough."

"Talent is being replaced by ‘likes’ and the number of social media followers. The essence of the art is being lost. And in the process, true talent is overlooked."

"I’ve never seen myself as a celebrity. I’m an actress. My job is to embody a character and bring it to life with honesty and depth."

"There’s a lot of women who walked that path before me. But I made a conscious decision to walk the path very feminine. I think I was one of the first girls to wear heels on a soccer pitch, and a dress, and full face-beat."

"I’m definitely where I am because of the path that other people have walked before me."

"It clicked that I didn’t belong there when I would leave during lunch breaks for auditions, which would obviously go overboard, and I’d have to come back and explain myself."

"I’ve always been someone who understands that I whatever my circumstances are, I can get up and I can work and I can still make sure that I live the life that I want for myself, regardless of what’s been afforded to me or not."

"There's power within us. We just need to unlock it in order to heal our scars."

"With all the trials life has dished at me, I don't feel so much anymore."

"I only acknowledged the seriousness of the situation when seeing everyone else's panic around me."

"There are so many African stories to tell the world and we need to be the ones that make that happen."

"What’s important is that we need to tell our stories and not wait for Hollywood to be our savior."

"Treat the industry with respect."

"You need a clear vision of what you want. Even if you can’t articulate it well, a clear vision will help you focus. Sometimes people don’t achieve much because there is no destination. You need to direct yourself there."

"It is important to have someone in your life with more life experience, who can answer your questions and guide you. We all need teachers. You should never stop learning."

"Money changes lives; I know what it can do. I work hard because I want it. Don’t let money threaten you or it will control you."

"We need to be protective of our industry as well. What’s important is that as an industry we are responsible for telling stories that shape the next generation. Our responsibility should be to foster their opportunities and help them to grow."

"The entertainment industry is big enough to fit everyone in it as we all have different roles to play. I never get why there are always comparisons when it comes to us female celebrities; it’s completely unnecessary."

"Being a woman is… a journey of self-discovery where at times we underestimate our power."

"When something big happens in my career, something else in my private life goes wrong."

"The world is definitely a better place when you’re older and I must admit, growing older has been great to me."

"I am excited for white people to see white privilege through a different medium and I think people will learn a lot from this show, it is very educational. It might kick start a conversation about racism that comes from a place of trying to see things from someone else’s perspective."

"Africa has no representative in terms of a global, leading actress in Hollywood and my main goal is to fill that space."

"You can never be given too much to handle. God always has a plan."

"I think people will resonate with the idea of using love as a weapon of choice and fall in love with the story."

"Prior to reading Malorie’s books I had never heard of a world that existed where Africans were the ruling class. It was unique and it made me feel warm inside, to imagine a world where this could be a possibility."

"If everyone acknowledges the privilege certain people have, it’s up to those people as well to help push the agenda forward."

"In the past, African culture hasn’t been as respected or honoured in the way this drama displays. I feel so proud to be a part of something where African culture is put on a pedestal."

"A love story is a story that I think almost anyone can relate to, a love story is universal and I think that allows audiences to really invest in the world we have created and pick up on the racial injustices and social injustices the characters face based on the colour of people’s skin. I think a love story gives people a way into that."

"My advice to other moms would be… to cherish every moment and become aware of the great responsibility we have as first educators of the next generation."

"To remain true to yourself and the things that you believe in and to do projects that really resonate with you. If something is for you it will be for you, and if it’s not then it’s not, trust your gut and do the things you passionately feel will make a difference."

"What I really liked about the relationship is how innocent it is in this world where everything seems to be set up against them. It is always beautiful to see the message relayed that whatever world you are in and however hard your circumstances may be, when you feel like the world is against you there is always that bit of hope - and their relationship represents that. They are very brave to want to be together as their relationship is illegal. It is inspiring to see how courageous they are and how their love is able to overcome such dangerous obstacles and difficult struggles."

"My father insisted that I read history books in my spare time, and that shaped my life in many ways."