I always like auditioning because it's like, 'Oh, my God, I have an audition - yay!' It means opportunity for work, which is great. But it's scary as well, because you put so much pressure on yourself.

The most surprising thing - and the thing I really didn't think I would have an opportunity to do when I was younger - was I didn't realize the kind of roles I would be able to play. I thought it would be, like, two lines here, the joke.

One of the cool things about 'Patti Cake$' is that it is about someone that is against stereotype.

How many people get to say they recorded a song with Dolly Parton and Jennifer Aniston?

The big message is, you're the star in your own life. You don't have to change; you are who you are. Go and do what you want to do.

There aren't plus-sized teens represented in film who aren't made the butt of a joke.

I think confidence comes with age and experience, honestly.

Not everybody gets to travel halfway around the world to see a whole different perspective. If we can see that on TV, we'll know that society is bigger than the small world we all live in.

I have a dog and a cat, and they are best friends.

It definitely took me a while to adjust to L.A. I came out knowing nobody, and I'd never lived away from home before.