Whilst being known primarily for her singing talents with Destiny's Child, Beyonc茅 Knowles branched out and hit the big screen in Austin Powers In Goldmember in 2002. Whilst still continuing her singing career, she's about to return to the big screen, starring opposite Cuba Gooding Jr in The Fighting Tempations.
This is only your second movie. How do you feel it's turned out?
I'm very, very happy with it. It's so exciting to slip into the back of the theatre and watch everyone's reactions. It's still awkward to see myself that big on the screen, but I had so much fun doing it.
What do you like most about the film?
The movie just gives you a warm feeling and it makes everyone happy when they leave the theatre. It's about coming home and finding out the things that are important to you. But while you get this message, you have fun. It's not preachy. You can't help yourself from laughing, and the music is the most important thing.
With all the music and the singing, did it feel like an ideal role for you following on from the Austin Powers film?
It was a perfect role for me. I love combining dance, music, film, and acting. Gospel music has influenced music in general, especially R&B music, and some of the people I respect so much are in this movie. I was just surrounded by all these great musicians, and Cuba Gooding Jr, of course.
What did you learn from working with Cuba?
To take different emotions and different things from everyday life and put it into the character. He does that. He takes every little detail from certain people, from the shoes to the accent, everything. I just tried to do the same thing with a lot of the single mothers I grew up around at my mother's hair salon. I play a single mother so it was easy. It was nice.