Welcome to Never Before. I'm your host, Janet Mock.

Have you ever met someone whose laugh feels like a warm hug?

Whose jokes leave you reaching for tissues, whose confidence is just pure goals.

That's how I feel about my guest, Gabba Re Sidape. Gabby. Gabby has quite the story, truly Taylor made for Hollywood.

While in college, Gabby skipped school on a whim one day and auditioned for a film based on the novel Push by Sapphire.

The director Lee Daniels instantly fell for Gabby, like who doesn't, and cast her in her first acting role as the lead in Precious.

Upon release in 2009, the film and cast, which included Monique, Paula Patton, and Mariah Carey,

and earned Gabby a best actress Oscar nomination.

Nothing like that ever happened to me when I was playing hooky.

But Gabby is just that special.

She has since starred in American Horror Story and, of plays Blonde Becky in the TV mega hit Empire.

Now, Gabby has a new book. This is Just My Face. Try Not to Stare.

A memoir that details her journey from Harlem to Hollywood.

I speak with Gabby about carving out her own space and culture,

her literal body of work,

and the complicated dynamics of becoming your family's sole breadwinner.

Woof. Money.

I just finished your book on my way here to interview you. And so it's like, it's just weird

exchange. I'm in the pleasure. I know so much about you now. Yeah. And I know nothing of you.

Who are you? Who are you? How has the experience been? I know it's so new for you to have this out there in the world.

Oh, it's so strange.

People keep telling me it's a really quick read, which strangely, it offends me.

...