actresses-from-ethiopia

"My self-esteem was rock bottom and sinking. Slowly‚ I was just being broken down. Everything was going out and nothing was going in. I wasn’t nurturing Pamela. By the time my partner decided to move his whole family into my house‚ Pamela was gone and I was asking myself who am I?"

"Reliving some things such as my dad's passing,was difficult,but writing was cathartic. I am no longer that person I describe in the books,I am proof that indeed you can turn the negative into positives"

"every second I walked into the SABC meant a minute off of my oxygen tank"

"I quietly walked along those corridors and prayed. It never occurred to me when performing this seemingly insane ritual that perhaps what I should be doing was asking to see some of the casting departments and see if there was any work available for one of the so-called “top actresses in the country"."

"The thing I have been most grateful for in the roles I have had the pleasure of tackling is their diversity. As I grow older, my life is opening me up to all kinds of roles in different genres, giving me the opportunity to keep growing"

"Make Your Mother's Day, Every Day"

"The more you do it [charity work], the more you realize how much you have to do it"

"Here we are today. But in a hundred years how do you want the world to be? Everybody should get together to make the world a better place"

"If nothing else, I want women to understand that they are powerful. If you look back at history, in almost every big moment, in every leap forward, you find ordinary women at the core. We have more ability to make changes in the world than we can imagine if we have the courage to try."

"Helping others isn't a chore, it is one of the greatest gifts there is. I want to challenge the next generation of women to find a way to give back that inspires and fulfills them and weave it into their daily lives. If the next generation can learn that early on, we have a real chance to change the world."

"When our mothers are alive and healthy, they do extraordinary things... like the mothers of Plaza de Mayo, who marched in Argentinean plazas, defying the military junta dictatorship and demanding the whereabouts of their abducted children... or the Liberian mothers who faced down civil war armed only with T-shirts and courage."

"I think we don't give each other or ourselves credit. We're all inspiring each other every day."

"I never thought modeling would become my career. I thought it was something I'd do to pay my way through college."

"It is important for me that I represent a brand that reflects my personality."

"A small gold plain cross was passed down from my grandma to my mom, then to me, and now to my daughter. It is always nice to own something that connects you to the women who made it possible for you to exist."

"We can't end poverty if we fail to save the lives of our world's mothers."

"I can contribute, be valuable and grow in many ways, since my interests are so varied. That is very satisfying."

"I think you should really research your cause, see if there are other people who are already doing the same thing you're doing and try to join forces because I really feel like collaborating is really important and very efficient. More is more, you know?"

"Whether I'm at home or on the red carpet that's the thing I really look for - I wouldn't wear something that was uncomfortable, no matter how good it looked."

"There is definitely more diversity; different colours, different shapes, and so now we just have to hope it keeps improving and isn't a trend."

"Some people would feel crushed by the pressure to stay relevant, but some girls are thriving."

"When I went back to Ethiopia, I wanted to do something. I wanted to give back"