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Born December 1, 1985 · Kansas City, Kansas, USA Birth name Janelle Monáe Robinson QUOTES: I feel myself becoming the fearless person I have dreamt of being. Have I arrived? No. But I’m constantly evolving and challenging myself to be unafraid to make mistakes. [observation, 2014] I’d be honored to experiment more with holograms and maybe make a whole band – but I love my band. I wouldn’t want them to be holograms. I’ve never viewed myself as “just” a musician or singer. I’m a storyteller who wants to tell untold, meaningful, universal stories in unforgettable ways. I want to do it all, study it all and find my place in it. I had a strong visceral reaction to the Moonlight (2016) script, partly because I felt I knew all of these characters. I grew up with a drug dealer like Juan in my neighborhood who was a mentor to local young people. I had a family member who was addicted to crack, like Paula. Chiron himself reminded me of my little cousin – they were all characters I could relate to from my upbringing. And I’ve played the role of Teresa in real life: my family and friends always have a shoulder to lean on with me.