I wanted to represent the brothas I have seen when I go to the rhythm section of Oakland, hearing brothas speak and tell me about their journeys. Men who have been to prison and found themselves, brothas who have made mistakes but are loving their wives and children, trying to protect them and educate them. These men do exist.

Russell Hornsby

Categorized in : Me Mistakes Children Men

At the end of the day, you have to find the humanity in you in each character.

Russell Hornsby

the-end-of-the-day humanity character

As an actor, we spend so much putting the mask on and trying to be someone you're not.

Russell Hornsby

mask actors trying

I mean, of course, I love sci-fi and stuff like that, but I'm not, like, a comic book crazy guy.

Russell Hornsby

crazy mean book

A fence can be protective around your family - a familial fence. Then, there are the people who only know how to take, to abuse, to offend and they build fences to keep you out. They don't have time to talk, they don't have kind words, they only talk about themselves. They never give an olive branch or forgiveness - they create a fence because of their personality or behavior and they want to create a barrier to keep people out.

Russell Hornsby

personality giving people

In a lot of work places, you work at a lot of jobs and people work more with their colleagues than with their family.

Russell Hornsby

work-place jobs people

The thing is, about a character, it's not about being right, it's about the truth. The truth comes from within, so you have to search as an artist for the truth.

Russell Hornsby

artist character

Some people build fences to keep people out and we also do things everyday to keep people close - when we play ball and go fishing with our kids, we are doing it to keep them close and fenced in. That's how relationships are built positively - we're using fences to tell people that we love them.

Russell Hornsby

fishing play kids

Something's always better than nothing.

Russell Hornsby

nothing something better always

Kids - black kids - are forced to grow up too soon.

Russell Hornsby

grow-up grow up black

There is so much stimuli coming at young people, you don't even have time to grieve before something new happens. We are desensitized to the issues.

Russell Hornsby

new you time people

We are not apathetic in this country.

Russell Hornsby

apathetic country

As a black man, so often you grow up suppressing your emotions and sensitivity.

Russell Hornsby

grow you man black

These are human issues. These are human stories. I think that's why 'Fences' has been able to resonate and been able to hit so many people over the years because it is just that. You can't run away from the racial specifics of it, but that's just a part of it.

Russell Hornsby

run think you people

Some people build fences to keep people out; some people build fences to keep people in.

Russell Hornsby

some-people build some people

It is a distinct and an honor to work with the august Regina King. I would call her Queen King. This woman is one of our treasures. She's an actor's actor. She has craft to burn. She's a craftsman who knows what she is doing, and she's got soul.

Russell Hornsby

king woman soul work

Acting is a privilege, and I'm exceedingly blessed to be able to do what I do. At the end of the day, it's all entertainment.

Russell Hornsby

end-of-the-day end day blessed

I'm an actor of the theater.

Russell Hornsby

actor theater

I want authenticity. And rarely do actors - more specifically, black actors - get a chance to be authentic on film and television.

Russell Hornsby

black chance want television

Every once in a while, we need to watch something that makes us feel.

Russell Hornsby

us need something feel

In 'The Hate U Give,' I play Big Mav', who was incarcerated for a number of years and is raising three children. He was a gang member but reformed himself, and he's trying to empower his children, help them understand the best way to keep out of trouble.

Russell Hornsby

best hate children way