Quotes

[on landing her first leading theatrical role at age 14]: I took my curtain call and they screamed and cheered and I got hooked.

[on gaining celebrity status on 227 (1985), for which she won an Emmy Award in 1987]: It was great -- it was the best time of my life, actually, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

[on her 2002 return to Broadway]: Well, I looked fabulous, it was hard work singing and dancing, lifting that leg up, that fan kick. It reminded me of the days when I really used to work for a living.

[on her comeback to television]: I'm trying like heck -- it ain't easy. You've gotta come up with a concept and we haven't found one yet.

[on her departure from 227 (1985) and her on- and off-screen rumoured feud with Marla Gibbs, who played Mary Jenkins]: When Sandra took off and I took off with her, the truth is it did indeed create a lot of tension. There were problems on Marla's part, which was truly ridiculous because she had all the power. It was her show. Maybe the problem stemmed from the fact that from the beginning Marla wanted someone else for the part, but the network insisted on me. They were all pushing Sandra, and they were pushing me. That changed when I got big, maybe too big, in Marla's eyes. Not that Marla and I ever had any arguments. She was never rude to me, and we always remained cordial. But on the biggest night of my life, when I won my Emmy, not only wasn't there a party given for me, but there was also not a flower or a word of congratulations. Ever. There was nothing, and that hurt. Afterward, my part got less and less each week, and it became clear to me that it was time to leave so I did.

[on her feud with 227 star Marla Gibbs, who played Mary Jenkins]: That was true at the time, she and I since have become the greatest friends. We've come full circle, and by that I mean, we talked about it honestly and woman-to-woman, and she didn't have to but she did. People were putting things in her head and telling her things that weren't true and she was believing in them. And then she finally came to talk to me, and we got it all straightened out. We are the best of buds - me, her and Alaina Reed and the fabulous Regina King.

[Of Marla Gibbs]: That Marla Gibbs was the star of it. She's strong. People took it for granted, but she implemented a lot of change on there. She did not hold her tongue. She fought for all of us. She and I are great friends. She and I have come full circle. She's the best person.

[Who talked about being serious when Marla Gibbs asked her to be funny]: Well, I said, 'I don't want to be funny, tomorrow.' Marla said, 'Yes, I want you to be funny because our show will be picked up.' And she said, 'The funnier everybody is, the better, the show will be.'

[on her real-life professional relationship with Marla Gibbs; away from 227 (1985)]: I worked with her quite a lot. We've been doing a lot of stuff together.