From 'Dreamgirl' to real woman

Did you ever have a job as a personal assistant in real life, like your character Louise?

[Laughs] Oh, no. I think it was fun playing a personal assistant, but I can’t work no computer and I’m not that organized at all.

Did you find the role challenging?

It was quite hard, although I switched roles with my assistant, answering the phone, etc., so I could get the feel of being an assistant. I would assist him, which I don’t think I did too good of a job of.

Did working on this movie give you a better appreciation of fashion?

Definitely! I’m more into fashion now, because [the characters’] level of it is exciting and more interesting, and made me want to experiment with my style.

Which of the film’s four lead characters could you relate to the most?

I’d say Charlotte [played by Davis], because she’s the wholesome, traditional girl, and that’s more like me.

There’s been a lot of secrecy surrounding the picture’s plot. Did friends pester you to find out what’s going to happen?

Everyone did — I had to duck and dodge everybody. So I would just tell them, “If you’re a fan of the series, you’ll be a fan of the movie, because it’s true to the series. Wait on it. It’s coming.”

Were you a guest at the wedding of your “Dreamgirls” co-star Beyoncé to Jay-Z?

Is that true? Did she really get married? If so, I’m going to have to send her a gift. Beyoncé’s an extremely private person, and I respect that.

Do you have any plans to get married?

No, I’m too young to get married.

There seems to be a lot of it going around lately.
And having babies, too. I’m going to wait on that.

What other movies are you working on?

I just finished “The Secret Life of Bees” [based on author Sue Monk Kidd’s bestselling 2002 novel] in the past two months. That’ll be out on Oct. 17. And “Winged Creatures,” which I’m not sure when it’s gong to be released. I don’t have any other roles lined up right now, but we’re working on that.
Meanwhile, I’m trying to focus on finishing the album, which comes out Sept. 30.

Why has it taken you so long to release your debut CD? Is the process of making an album different from what you expected?

I didn’t know what to expect. Everything is so new to me. Alicia Keys talked to me about it and told me not to worry, because it took her at least a year to record her first album.

Who did you like on “American Idol” this season?

[Runner-up] David Archuleta was my favorite.

When you were on the show, judge Simon Cowell once said to you, “I think you’re out of your depth in this competition.” Have you heard from him?

I haven’t heard from Simon since he apologized to me on “Oprah.”

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