Larenz Tate

[Is he bothered by being reminded in his role in Menace II Society] Larenz Tate: I don't think so. But people identify with that thug [expletive]. It's cool, I don't have a problem with that. Menace made my career. It gave me all the opportunities, because it was the kind of film that was a phenomenon. It gave me the exposure that I needed and it let people take a look at me closely because it was such a phenomenon. So a guy like Kevin Costner may not have seen the movie Menace II Society but he damn sure knows about it and he is aware of it.

[On what he looks for in a script] Larenz Tate: what I look for in a script is the plot point and whether they're strong, obviously, or not, whether the characters are rich or not, and if I can do justice to the character or not. Some movies you look at and the script is so bad that no one can do anything with the script. I mean, that's probably why Denzel Washington turns down so much. It's like why go through all of the ups and downs of trying to have a phenomenal performance when the movie is just bad all around.

[On being a sex symbol] Larenz Tate: It's interesting, because I've never seen myself as a sex symbol. It's actually kind of cool that women have taken to me. Because now I have a whole different demographic when it comes to the audiences. I have women who come out and support my movies and that is a huge demographic for me, which is great because some actors don't have a female base at all.