I’m like a moth to a flame

What do you like most about your character and what the least?
I loved her resilience, that she was able to deal with her own grief and was then able to help someone else. But before that, she was a judgmental person, very self-righteous. She passed a lot of judgment on (Jerry), but a lot of that came from fear.

You’ve played such diverse roles. Is there a common thread there that defines your sensibility or philosophy of life?
The common thread for me is to always choose roles that provide an outlet to express what I’m going through in real life. Since Jungle Fever, I’ll have that personal catharsis, where I’ll have a eureka moment and think, “That’s why this came to my life.” With Things We Lost in the Fire, I desperately wanted to become a mother. I’ve played a mother before but this was a woman who was a good mother and completely devoted to her children and family. And that’s what I wanted to create in my own life.

Do you think having a child will influence your artistic choices?
It will have a profound effect. I know I will feel the need to express something different. If I stay true to how I’ve chosen roles before, my choices will express the new person I’ve become.

Does it get easier or harder for you to leave a character like this on the set?
I’ve really learned the value of leaving it there. When I take my coat off on the set, it stays there. It’s not something I talk about at home. It’s not really healthy.

During award...