In an interview with essence.com, Keshia Knight Pulliam — though she’ll always be Rudy from the Cosby Show to us — talks up her new role in Tyler Perry movie, Madea Goes To Jail. When asked how she managed to skirt the way of some child stars — drugs, crime, etc., here’s what she offered up:

“I think it’s learning from the mistakes of those before you. It’s very documented the rough route that other child stars have had. My family made sure my focus was to stay grounded, to stay humble. In my family, it’s not an option not to be. Taking that time off to grow emotionally, mentally and physically was a very deliberate thing; to just go to school and have those regular experiences in life. Through that, your self-worth isn’t grounded in Hollywood. It isn’t grounded in your next role. It’s grounded in real stuff—going to school, being a good person, those sorts of things. So I really attribute it to my upbringing.”