As an actor, you really want to resonate with your audience. I played a character on Oz and people still approach me in the streets today.

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I've never been really great at trusting anybody, just because of the way I grew up.

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I was always led to believe you should take care of yourself, trust in your abilities and you're the author of your own destiny.

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You don't want it to be a replica or an imitation. You want to create something fresh, original, very unique.

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I'm known for playing bad guys, so this was an interesting departure from what I'm known to play, which is a softer, more likable, affable character.

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You really have to act your pants off to stay alive. I thrive on that; I rise to the occasion of the circumstances.

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Certainly, I look for different characters 'cause I always like to keep people guessing, and I also don't like to get typecast. I made a concerted effort, last year and this year, to get a range of characters, just to show people the range that I have, and for them to be able to see the artistry beyond the color.

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It's a significant question: should black people only adopt black children, and white people white children?

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My father was a lorry driver, very rarely at home. The house was run by my mother, and because there were 10 or so kids, there was no time for individual attention. It was about survival. It was about where the next meal was coming from.

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I've played different nationalities, and everything from vulnerable to strong to crooked to demented. It just increases your possibilities of work because, if people know you can do just about anything, then you're going to get more offers. That's what I want to do.

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