When you think of the people who were important in your life, prettiness was not a factor. They might have been old, fat and toothless - but they were there.

There are other people in 'Dreamgirls' who are born-again Christians. We have a Bible study class once a week. It was started by Charles Bernard and myself. We meet at the theater.

I realized my calling was to use the arts and ministry to help young people.

I was making $150 a week in workshop. It was a rough year. I had trouble paying the rent. But I had evenings free to spend with my wife, Olive, and our baby daughter. In terms of family-building, it was one of the most blessed years of my life.

I was excited to hear others talking of God. Most people in show business have some strong spirituality but don't talk about it openly.

We are living in a culture where we are so led by the visual, and what is promoted in the media, that the attitude becomes, 'I don't have to go through normalcy in life - I can look for exemptions. And I expect them, and when I look for them and they are not there, I am angry.'