Lee Daniels

I wanted to make a black 'Dynasty.'

People enjoy making fun of people who are famous; they love putting people down.

I love black women. I live for them. They are everything to me. I'm obsessed with them. They are sophisticated, resilient and smarter than me.

I think for any actor, for the roles they deeply, truly want? They always have to audition for them.

Ever since I watched 'Roots,' I've dreamed of tracing my African ancestry and helping other people do the same.

Well, I actually wrote her a letter a couple of days ago congratulating her. The tone I tried to convey in the letter is, look, you are a part of a great American historical process.