“If I was blond and tall, then I would have had 10 times the competitio...” — Lauren Tom Quote

“If I was blond and tall, then I would have had 10 times the competition. I auditioned steadily and performed for everyone who would hire me. Now I am in a position to pick and choose my roles.”

“From the time I was little, I always felt like an outsider. I always felt nervous and uncomfortable with myself.”

“When 'Joy Luck Club' came out, I kind of became a role model for the Asian acting community. I started to talk at colleges and emcee charity things. I'm much more connected to my sense of being Asian now.”

“When you're not blond and thin, you come up with a personality real quick.”

“I've only dyed my hair blond once, after 'Varsity Blues.'”

“I always took myself really seriously in my 20s and needed everyone to know that I wasn't a spoiled blond actress.”