“I was working in customer service and had a verbally abusive boss. One...” — Tika Sumpter Quote

I was working in customer service and had a verbally abusive boss. One day, I decided to quit and pursue my acting passion with everything I had. One week after quitting, I booked 'One Life to Live.'

I think one of the most important lessons that I've learned is to put your head down and work. Don't look at other people and compare yourself. Just do the work. Because when the opportunity is there, you have to be ready. Make sure your craft is refined and you're constantly working on it.

I want to do good, and I want people to be happy, and sometimes when you're a people pleaser, you spread yourself too thin.

I'm not trying to live a social media life or a life to just be in a magazine.

I'm always thinking, 'My goodness, I got booked again!' So I am really happy to still be working.

We did like 12 shows, then we did the entire Ozzfest with the first half completely booked; then we did the second half with a couple days off here and there.

Being booked for simulation is never good.

Once you've been booked, people in Hollywood say, 'Oh he must be good.' All the while you're the same actor.

Do you know I used to pride myself on the fact that I'd never booked a show in my life, but that I'd played so many because I'd been invited?