Raise your hand if you've ever been afraid to say “no.” That's something actresses like Zoe Saldaña, Demi Moore, and Kate Winslet understand on a deep level.

In a new roundtable interview with the actresses alongside Saoirse Ronan, Cynthia Erivo, and Danielle Deadwyler for the LA Times, they spoke extensively about what they learned on set and what they gained from their experiences embodying others.

When asked by LA Times reporter Amy Kaufman why the first thing she always tells young people/actors is the power of “no,” Sardinha said that saying something that goes against so much societal conditioning that women should agree and be submissive to the wants and needs of others is described the impact on the person saying it and on the world as a whole.

“I grew up in a culture where respect for elders was never questioned. If that option is denied, he added, “sometimes children grow up without a real voice.” [This writer, for one, is expanding the broader conversation about how important it is not only to take back the power for ourselves, but to empower others to do the same. [And sometimes saying “no” can be a very important choice in life,” Sardinha explained, adding, ”It saves your life, protects your sanity, and allows you to grow safely.”

She added, “I think young people need to have a little more control over their identity and their choices. I always tell them, especially women, that they can always say no.”

Moore said almost immediately, “Someone once told me that when you say no, you are telling the universe what you want it to bring about. When you say no, you are also telling the universe what you want. I loved that.”

To which all the women nodded vigorously, and Winslet added: “I think that's what I'm trying to do with my children. With children, they don't yet have the words to articulate how they feel, but they can sense that a situation is unwanted for them, or that they are anxious about the situation at hand. They will just automatically say [no].”

“There is power in that,” Sardinha aptly stated, reminding us how important it is to follow our intuition more, even if it is difficult and scary, and perhaps especially so.