Lena Waithe Quotes

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Lena Waithe

Profession : Actress

Birth : May 17, 1984

It took me forever to leave Chicago. I went to Columbia College because I wasn't ready to leave! My professors had to kick me in the pants to move to Los Angeles.

Lena Waithe

Every black man in Chicago walks through the world differently, and I think what young black boys do is observe, and that's what gives them their road map.

Lena Waithe

I actually don't like saying 'lead character,' which is an interesting thing. If you say there's a lead, then there has to be someone to follow.

Lena Waithe

I think it's so trite to say you have lead characters. It's like someone saying I'm the lead in my life.

Lena Waithe

I'm a black woman, so I'm obviously not going to write something where women aren't at the forefront.

Lena Waithe

I got into the business because I love writing. When it came down to finding my voice, which every writer has to take time to do, I think I realized I write black people very well. I write us in a very honest way, and I want to hear the way we really talk.

Lena Waithe

I feel like I wanna have a series of moments. It's scary when they say you're having a moment, because moments are momentary.

Lena Waithe

I'm very grateful that I'm the kind of actor where I'm not some character actor. I can't disappear into a world.

Lena Waithe

The thing for me is to always tell the truth. Not to preach, but to tell the truth.

Lena Waithe

I don't need an Emmy to tell me to go to work. I've been working.

Lena Waithe

It was a symbolic moment when 'Moonlight' literally took the Oscar out of 'La La Land's' hand.

Lena Waithe

You have to write and develop and wait for the world to catch up to your art.

Lena Waithe

I don't want to be white. I don't want to be straight. I don't want to blend in.

Lena Waithe

When you're not as accessible, you get in a tent and get in your own head, and you start doing things that are a little out of touch. I think we've seen it happen with certain artists... people can't touch them; they're not touching people. They're only touching people in their circle.

Lena Waithe

I never want to feel too far away from people. I think that's when you get in trouble.

Lena Waithe

There's so many other talented women of color who write funny things every day, and I want them to be recognized, I want them to have a seat at the table because we're out here.

Lena Waithe

All the writers for 'The Chi,' they're all phenomenal, so I'm just working on projects with them. They have great scripts.

Lena Waithe

I'm queen of mentorship.

Lena Waithe

I feel like I've accomplished a lot, but for me, it's about pushing to the point where I can be Mark Walhberg, Ryan Murphy, or Shonda Rhimes. I want to be at that table in terms of bringing new voices in.

Lena Waithe

There's a lot of Donald Glovers, Jordan Peeles, Justin Simiens. And there's a lot of me's, too.

Lena Waithe