Rosie Perez

Rosie: Why would someone be so arrogant and smug to think children would only want to learn one language?

Rosie: As far as a Latin explosion, I'm sorry, I'm the only Latino who's going to say it, but there is no Latin explosion. I'm sorry. Four or five top box office people do not make it an explosion, and it's disgusting to me that people will perceive it that way.

Rosie: As an actor, you may do things that aren't politically correct. Unless you're an actor who only does things for political reasons. I believe if we don't do the good, bad, and the ugly, we're not going to progress.

Rosie: In my circle of friends, I've always been loud and funny and talkative. But as soon as I step out of that circle, I get very quiet and introspective. I don't want the spotlight on me.

Rosie: The majority of Latin actresses in Hollywood were always playing either spitfires or maids. Now here is a woman who comes in and does leads opposite white people and black people and other Spanish people, and she's comfortable in her skin? Gasp! How dare she?

Rosie: The racism, the sexism, I never let it be my problem, it's their problem. If I see a door coming my way, I'm knockin' it down. And if I can't knock down the door, I'm sliding through the window. I've never let it stop me from what I wanna do.

Rosie: My aunt had five children of her own, and we all lived together in four rooms. I loved getting into bed with my aunt and listening to her tell me things. She taught me who I am.

Rosie: We're a peaceful, loving people, until you push a Puerto Rican against a wall. Then it's hold up, it's on. The Vieques protest personified that I felt a part of things.

Rosie: The biggest struggle I had was having people recognize I was an intelligent human being. They thought that since I had an accent, I must be stupid.