It's funny, because in drama school, my greatest strength was my range. So my early career was like that: I played all kinds of different characters.

When I went to drama school, I knew I was at least as talented as other students, but because I was a black man and I wasn't pretty, I knew I would have to work my butt off to be the best that I would be, and to be noticed.

Like any actor, I want to be able to have a long career and show different characters and a range.

'Pigeonholed' isn't the right word, because I feel like I've had a very wide range of characters that I've been allowed to play.

He then went on to become seriously involved in drama in high school.

I was the editor of the school newspaper and in drama club and choir, so I was not a popular girl in the traditional sense, but I think I was known for being relatively scathing.