Angela Means, who in 1995 brought to life the memorable (and later memed) Friday character Felicia, reflected on the character’s journey and the larger issues at play in her life story in a recent interview.

Speaking with Comedy Hype, Means said she was “not surprised” when she first learned she landed the role in F. Gray Gray’s classic franchise-starter. This was largely due to her having had success in ticking off a number of goals on a handwritten list she made on the flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles earlier in her career. That list, Means said, included (as one of the “last things”) securing an “interesting character” in a production.