How old were you when you started acting?

I joined [Equity] when I was 11.

So when did you realize you wanted to sing and act?

It started officially for me at 3. I sang in church. My mom said one day I was sitting on her lap and some singer came to the church and I looked at her and said "Mommy, I want to sing too."

My mom is one of those type of mothers who said,"Why don't you try it?" She told my dad, who was also a minister at the time, she said Tichina wants to sing. So during offering when they take up the collection, they stood me on the table -- I'll never forget it -- they gave me the mike and I looked out and I was bitten and smitten. My first song was "If I Had a Hammer."

Did you get to have a normal childhood?

I am happy I wasn't a child star. I am not a star. My mom was never a stage mother.

I'll never forget this. I did this play called "Peppermint Bear" and it was just a really horrible production. I played this doll. And all of the other little kids [in the play] when they ran off stage the mothers were like "Oh, Susie you were great. You were great, Tommy." My mom was like, "Oh, my god. It was horrible."

My mom is very honest. I have been raised with a lot of reality.

Did you imbue Rochelle with your mother?

Oh yeah, totally. Rochelle is my mother, my aunt and my grandmother, all rolled up in one person. I think that the fun part of my playing Rochelle is I have had so many real experiences with these domineering women in my family. I have a lot to pull from.

I never met Chris' mom, but she loves the show. ... He said she loves the show and she likes what I am doing, so that's all that matters. And then in respect to Rochelle, people see her as a mom. I get Jewish women, Italian women -- all walks of life. They say, "You remind me of my mother."

I like to make sure that Rochelle does the things that mothers do in their homes. With the way the show is set up, it is allowing you into this family's home and you are seeing the reality of the family.

Your name keeps showing up on the short list of potential best actress Emmy nominees.

I am thrilled to even have my name circulating along with the same names as the Felicity Huffmans and America Ferreras. It is a joy to be recognized by my peers.

You had an Emmy experience when you were a teenager.

Yeah. I was nominated for an Emmy on "Ryan's Hope." I was 17. Because of my age I wasn't into the awards show. I didn't know how prestigious it was.

But now that I look back and I am looking through my own photo albums and a hope chest that has all the letters that ABC wrote to me congratulating me for the nomination, it is more important for me now that it was then. I didn't know how wonderful it was then.