My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads of things that I liked about the movie which made me opt for it.

Surely these women won't lose any more of their beauty and charm by putting a ballot in a ballot box once a year than they are likely to lose standing in foundries or laundries all year round. There is no harder contest than the contest for bread let me tell you that.

There's one more thing I want to say. It's a touchy subject. Black beauty. Black sensuality. We live in a culture where the beauty of black people isn't always as celebrated as other types. I'd like to help change that if I can!

The arts quite simply nourish the soul. They sustain comfort inspire. There is nothing like that exquisite moment when you first discover the beauty of connecting with others in celebration of larger ideals and shared wisdom.

I know as an actor there is a certain liberation auditioning for a role that has no beauty requirements.

Shortly thereafter some friends encouraged me to try out for the Miss South Carolina World beauty pageant. To my surprise I won - and was sent to New York City to compete nationally.

When you are at the bottom you find beauty in such little things and goodness in such little gestures. When I compare any struggle today to ones that I may have had in my childhood there is nothing that can bring me down.

There's a difference between beauty and charm. A beautiful woman is one I notice. A charming woman is one who notices me.

What breadth what beauty and power of human nature and development there must be in a woman to get over all the palisades all the fences within which she is held captive!

There is beauty when something works and it works intuitively.