"The Queen", as her fans know her, went from flipping beef patties at Burger King, to a huge career in hip-hop music. She tried her hand at acting in movies like "Set It Off", "Living Out Loud", "The Bone Collector", and this year hit a peak with an Oscar nod for her role in "Chicago". She continues on the ascent in wacky comedy "Bringing Down the House".
What was it like working with Steve Martin?
He's actually not as crazy as he seems on screen. He's a really funny guy but he's also kind of reserved, if you know what I mean. He saves the humour and craziness for the screen and, wow, just explodes. In rehearsals he's a lot of fun. He just cracks up and has a great smile. I just love that smile.
Steve Martin fans know that he loves the banjo. Did he play a lot on the set?
Oh yeah, he whipped it out on a regular basis. Actually, the night I met him at a dinner at his house he played some stuff for me on the banjo. He can really play well. I like music, so I was happy to hear him anytime when we were filming.
What was it like being executive producer and star?
It was easy. I was brought on to get the script in shape and come up with ideas and cast it and have an influence on the music. So by the time we started, I was just an actor. I didn't have to wear more than one hat.
Did you have to spend a lot of time teaching Eugene Levy [who plays strait-laced Howie Rottman] street lingo?
Every line I gave him he would just kick it up. He got it right away. Just like that. I would only have to tell him one time. I'd tell him, "You got me straight tripping Boo", then I would explain what it meant [I'm crazy about you] so he could play the subtext behind it. And he would just deliver the line perfectly.
You've been acting since Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever". When did you realise you had a real future in film?
In the early films I was just Queen Latifah. I had to start looking for parts that went against the grain because the movies I was offered were offshoots of Queen Latifah - strong sister, cursin'. I got an acting coach and decided to take it seriously because I wanted to get better. But I'll never forget those directors who took a chance on me before I was trained because they saw some natural talent.
How excited were you to be nominated for an Oscar for "Chicago"?
I was geeked. Shocked! I couldn't believe it. My partner called me and said we got nominated and I'm like, "What? What nomination? The Oscar?" I'm like, "Oh my God!" I just freaked out - I was excited, happy, screaming. I was also half naked, running around the house saying, "Do you know what this means for hip-hop?" It's a barrier breaker. It means people after me can come and do the same thing.
"Bringing Down the House" opens in UK cinemas on Friday 30th May 2003.
