Cynthia Erivo felt "trepidation" about coming out as queer.
The 'Wicked' actress first came out as bisexual in 2022, and despite initially worrying about offending people, she realised it would be wrong to deny part of herself.
She told the 'Reign with Josh Smith' podcast: "It's been a really interesting journey also, because sometimes you approach it with a fair amount of trepidation like, 'Are people going to be okay with me? How are people going to be, if I say the word queer, are people going to be offended?'
"And then you sort of stop caring that much about that cause it's just who I am. It's just part of the tapestry of the human being that is in front of you.
"It takes a long time to get to a place like that. It also takes determination to get there. My life has not been perfect, let's put it that way."
The 37-year-old star has suffered "any number of big giant knocks and big rejections and serious hurts" over the years, but she thinks there is growth to be found in setbacks.
She explained: "Once you take off all of the stuff that other people put on you, you show up.
"And hopefully you get to a place where you find yourself feeling comfortable enough to take that version of who you see into every room you walk into.
"You feel even more confident when you take that version of who you are into a room that you walk into, let them stay there. Don't change them. Don't shift. Don't bend. Just be."
Cynthia admitted that two years after coming out in her 2022 interview with British Vogue, she feels "very powerful".
She added: "There's something really wonderful about watching someone who is just living, enjoying her life, working, creating, and just being.
"I think that that's something that I don't take for granted at all, but I do think it's important for other young queer people who just are trying to find their way to themselves to see."
