When the doors to television were opened to me, that was quite a surprise. It's been such a gift that there was so much TV and independent film happening in New York that I could be a part of. There was something to satiate my desire to be artistic and creative, especially when it wasn't in the way I originally thought it was going to be.

Aja Naomi King

Categorized in : Doors New York Independent

If you're doing an indie and you have time, sometimes you can do take after take after take, but if you're working in television on that filming schedule, you don't always have the time to do that. You learn very quickly, I think, how essential it is to come in with the strongest choice that you have.

Aja Naomi King

essentials choices thinking

When you do a play, you have all this time to rehearse and grow into the character. In television, even though you're waiting and waiting and waiting, once you're actually on set engaging in the scene with another actor, time is of the essence.

Aja Naomi King

essence play character

There is a voice inside of my head that is trying to convince me that I'm not good enough and that I don't deserve to be here in Hollywood. So courage is required. The courage to decide that I have a voice and need to do what I love. To believe that this opportunity is not wasted on me. To own the fact that I am worthy.

Aja Naomi King

not-good-enough opportunity believe

Sometimes as human beings, we're so contradictory - we may say something or do something and completely contradict ourselves. That's what I'm learning to embrace in television - not knowing what's going to happen. I might make a specific choice for myself and then in the next episode the writers might write something that contradicts it.

Aja Naomi King

choices knowing writing

I grew up in a very suburban neighborhood, so I was used to everything being safe and lovely.

Aja Naomi King

lovely grew-up safe

Being on a show with a female lead is amazing for me. I love that. I love the powerful woman who's complicated. There's no push to be one thing or another thing. It's all human. That's what you look for as an actor: characters written and portrayed in the most human way possible.

Aja Naomi King

female powerful character

Strength doesn't mean an absence of pain.

Aja Naomi King

pain strength absence mean

If I had a free afternoon, I would play music, sit in my backyard, and drink coffee.

Aja Naomi King

free drink music coffee

To relax, I love sitting back and turning my brain off and watching TV.

Aja Naomi King

relax sitting brain love

There are people who do what they believe is right, but as they say, 'The road to hell is paved with good intentions.'

Aja Naomi King

good hell believe people

I've never given my phone number to someone on the street, but when someone is a gentleman, I appreciate the compliments.

Aja Naomi King

street phone appreciate gentleman

We all have our family issues from time to time.

Aja Naomi King

our issues family time

Not everyone's high standards have to be the same thing.

Aja Naomi King

same everyone high high-standards

A man should be well groomed. If you're going to have facial hair, it should be a choice, not an accident.

Aja Naomi King

choice you man hair

Create something for yourself that you feel proud of, that you are in control of, that gives you a better understanding of the type of artist you want to be.

Aja Naomi King

yourself feel you proud

I've been trying to eat healthier, but sometimes it doesn't work out when you're sitting in front of the TV drinking wine, and you realize you really need ice cream to go along with it.

Aja Naomi King

you wine work sometimes

Your artistry is a muscle that needs to be exercised, so if all you are doing is auditioning, you'll never get the satisfaction of fulfilling the need to play the part.

Aja Naomi King

doing never you satisfaction

My ideal date would involve a park or rowing in those little boats on a lake.

Aja Naomi King

lake park ideal little

I'm at a place where I want to have fun. I want to be challenged. I want to love the people I work with and continue to appreciate being in the position to work and play and explore.

Aja Naomi King

have-fun work love people

I think it's well-known that I love all things ABC and Shonda Rhimes - I'm a huge 'Scandal' and 'Grey's Anatomy' fan.

Aja Naomi King

things think grey love