ROSARIO DAWSON CHATS ABOUT WHAT EMPOWERS HER, MAKES HER HAPPY AND KEEPS HER FIT.
Born in New York City, a 15 year-old Dawson was discovered sitting on her front porch steps by a photographer who would soon help her land her first role in the controversial film Kids. Music videos and films soon followed with breakout.
roles in Spike Lee’s 25th Hour and Oliver Stone’s Alexander to more recent films such as Unstoppable and Rent. Currently, the 34-year-old actor and musician splits her time between acting (her up-and-coming 2014 movies include: Sin City II, Queen of the Night, and Finally Famous) and her causes (Lower Eastside Girls Club, Oxfam, V-Day, Amnesty International, Voto Latino). Here’s what she had to say about leading a balanced life in Los Angeles:
Q. What empowers you?
A. I have inter-generational relationships that are incredibly important to me and that empower me. I was very, very close to my grandmother before she passed and I was able to check in with her and see what her life was like growing up. The same with my mother, and the expectations of being a woman that were placed on her. It has been comforting to me over the years and really helpful so that I don’t have to reinvent the wheel all the time. The main thing that helps empower me is being able to have conversations across the board with people and realize that I’m constantly growing, learning and that I have moments of need, insecurity or bursts of confidence.
Q. Together with the Allstate Foundation you want to raise awareness about domestic violence with the Purple Purse campaign. Tell us about it.
A. I’m so passionate about the Purple Purse campaign. More than 1,000 purses will be passed around nationwide with the ultimate goal of sparking important, life-changing conversations on this issue. It’s important to have help and knowledge when life throws you a major curveball or when you need the information to help empower other women about how to get out of a violent and abusive relationship.
Q. You travel so much during filming and charity work. What have you learned?
A. That there are so many more similarities than dissimilarities. The world becomes smaller and smaller the more I travel. We might not be able to speak the same language; just take a soccer ball or a drum anywhere in the world and people gather – and amazing things happen! Talk about empowering.
Q. What are your favourite forms of exercise?
A. Yoga and Pilates are a constant form of exercise and relaxation for me. It’s meditative and calming to get your body in motion. I don’t love working out, however I can honestly say I miss Pilates and yoga when I don’t do it for a while.
Q. How do you relieve stress?
A. A nice hot soak in a bubble bath topped with Epsom salts is a great stress-reliever.
Q. What makes you smile?
A. I was asked once why I smile all the time so it’s not always a good thing, I guess. I just smile a lot and if you’re around me enough you’ll see that I do this little really fast clap that I’m known for and it’s when I’m really happy and getting this burst of energy. Kids are like that before we tell them what they can and cannot do. They are full of the life force of energy, happiness and desire.
Q. What makes you happy?
A. I’m a happy person, in general. When people walk about with “Free Hugs” signs or I look at videos of people having fun, I can get teary. I recently watched a video of prisoners in Peru and most were dancing at the same time. That just made me happy. People make me happy.
Q. What do you look for in a relationship?
A. I love a really funny person…that and acceptance and gratitude in a person.
Q. What is the secret to longevity?
A. Peace and happiness are key factors to overall health and longevity. What brings me personal peace is complicated because it depends on so many things. It’s vital for keeping grounded and balanced. Helping others is one thing that brings me peace and happiness. And one other important aspect of finding those qualities is letting the people in your life know how much you love them and how much you’re there for them. Recognize when they’re there for you too, because that’s the moment where you want to feel peace. Don’t get distracted from what you should be doing today because you might not have tomorrow. VM
