Priyanka Chopra’s inspiring interview with Canadian magazine Flare

Priyanka Chopra is busy filming for season two of her successful global television series Quantico before its September premiere, but she made time to speak to Canadian magazine Flare. She spoke to Flare about everything under the sun, from her journey to Hollywood, her family values and, of course, her world views.

Here are some of the best quotes from the magazine’s interaction with Chopra, who also featured on the cover.

On her early ambition

“It wasn’t my dream to be a pageant queen. It was just drive. I don’t like losing.”

On gender equality

“We’ve been told for eons that a woman should be a certain way, dress a certain way, behave a certain way. That’s what the fight of feminism is for: we’re asking for the opportunity to make our own choices without being judged — a freedom that men have enjoyed for centuries.”

On roles for female actors

“It’s a great time to be a female actor right now, especially if you stand your ground. I won’t settle.”

On diversity in film and television

“Storytelling cannot be based on what someone looks like. Everyone has stories: you have a story; I have a story. They just need to be written. And casting needs to happen based on the best person for the job, not the Indian girl or the black girl. The girl next door is no longer blonde-haired and blue-eyed, nor is she brown-haired and brown-eyed. She’s not one person. And our entertainment needs to be a representation of that.”  

On Jennifer Aniston’s takedown of the media’s pressure on women to have families 

“I really admire her and the fact that she called it out."

On creativity

“I’m a big believer in encouraging creativity. And I don’t think you need big opportunities to be a creative person, especially in today’s digital age. We have these platforms, and we have the ability to share and access information at the speed of light, anywhere in the world.”

On 10-year plans

“I just feel like life never turns out the way you plan it. You can’t control everything, so you just have to go with what comes your way and do your best with every opportunity.”

The rest of the interview finds Chopra reminiscing on her pageant career, her decision to star in Quantico and her upcoming Hollywood debut with Baywatch (2017). It’s abundantly clear that this go-getter is just getting started.