My role model is my mom because she is the hardest working, most selfless person I have ever met. She's always said to me "where there's a will, there's a way" and "nothing beats a failure like a try." In ways, those have become my mantras.
Being talented will take you far, but being easy to work with will take you farther.
In her younger days, my mother was an aspiring actress herself. When I explained to her that I wanted to be an actor she wasn't exactly thrilled, but once I proved to her that I was serious she became my biggest supporter, and critic.