BV Entertainment Newswire July 5

Million Dollar Baby

Malinda Williams is all aglow.

Since the season finale of the Showtime hit series 'Soul Food' two years ago, the actress has kept a relatively low-profile.

Now she's in a whirlwind of activity -- and employment-- with a starring role on NBC's hit summer drama series 'Windfall' and a role in OutKast's long-awaited movie musical 'Idlewild.'

"You know what, that seems to be the way my life works; it's all or nothing," the Plainfield, N.J. native told Black Voices -- from the Atlanta set of her latest job: Tyler Perry's third theatrical project, 'Daddy's Little Girl.' "You know how it is, when it rains it pours or it doesn’t rain and it's a drought," she quipped.

In her down time she did audition, but a lot of the work that was available to her wasn’t appealing. "Most of them were like forensic, murder, mystery type, doctor, lawyer drama kinds of projects," she explained. "And I didn’t necessarily want to be a part of them because I didn’t want to go to work and deal with depressing subjects. I didn’t want to go to work and see dead bodies -- even if they weren’t real, I just didn’t want to do it. I wanted to go to work and touch on more upbeat subjects."

The 30-year-old single mom (of six-year-old son, Omikaye, whom she shares with ex-husband Mekhi Phifer) launched a lingerie line named Modern Goddess during the break.

And then came 'Windfall.'

Helmed by Laurie McCarthy (who had success with 'Felicity' and 'CSI: Miami'), the hour-long Thursday night drama centers on the lives of 20 small town folk who win the multimillion dollar lottery jackpot -- collecting $20 million each. Williams plays Kimberly George, a 22-year old single mother who hustles to make ends meet with a series of dead-end jobs.

"Initially it was a character who was only guest starring in this pilot but for me," she revealed. "So I thought, 'if I get one moment in my career to just do this joyful happy moment, and play it out, that is going to be good for me. And it's going to be good for black women to see themselves in that way: the epitome of joy.' So I played it out and it was such an incredible moment for myself."

She wowed the network brass so much, that what started out as a guest staring role turned into an offer to be a regular cast member.

For Perry's latest flick, which started shooting last month and stars Gabrielle Union and Idris Elba, Williams plays Maya, the bridge to the two main characters (a female attorney and mechanic). "Let me think first because I don’t want to say something that I'm not supposed to say," she said about the storyline.

One juicy morsel: "Madea is not in this film," she revealed.

She plays Zora in 'Idlewild,' the wife to Big Boi Patton's lead character. A studio insider says her role in the prohibition era film is "meaty." Williams said she drew inspiration from her grandmother for the role. "[Zora] is more of the woman who takes care of the five children,” she said. "She goes to church and she tries to support the home in the way that the wife is supposed to."

Williams said that next she wouldn't mind tackling a biopic -- or something lighter, like a comedy. "I always want to have fun and I want people to go and be able to be entertained. I like film that touches on relevant subject matter but I'm not necessarily in a place in my life right now that I want to do something that's too heavy."

Re-Gifting: Celebrity Style

Chaka Khan, Thandie Newton, T.I., Boris Kodjoe and Marlon Wayans were just a handful of the celebrities who attended the BET Awards last week -- and they brought meaning to the term "the gift that keeps on giving."

The boldfaced names donated items such as signed memorabilia, designer sunglasses, gold jewelry and watches, as well as designer clothing to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). The organization operates free AIDS treatment clinics in the United States, Africa, Asia, and Latin America/Caribbean as well as the largest free alternative HIV testing program in the State of California.

Items are available for online auctioning at eBay through July 10 at 5:00 p.m.

'Hip Hop Wives' Coming To TV

'Hip Hop Wives: The E! True Hollywood Story' will premiere July 9 at 8pm ET/PT on the E! channel.

In the one-hour special episode, the women of hip-hop reveal what happens when the music stops and real life begins for some of rap music’s biggest megastars. Hip-hop veteran Ice T is interviewed for the program. Of his wife Coco, the former gangsta rap icon said, "she ain’t from the same ‘hood as I am, but Coco’s been through it in her own way, so she has soul. And therefore, she understands my struggle.”

Media pundits such as 'Vibe' magazine editor Beverly Smith and Allhiphop.com founder Chuck 'Jigsaw' Creekmur offer their insight on the hip-hop marriages on the special. "These women were there before the fame, before the fortune, before the groupies, and there’s a trust factor there," Creekmur rationalized.

Former supermodel turned businesswoman Kimora Lee Simmons (who is reportedly divorcing hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons) is seen in archival footage touting the luxurious trappings of what her marriage has afforded her: "I love the car, I love the Bentleys. I just think that they are big, fun, beautiful toys."

Kim Porter, who has been the longtime lover of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, is also featured, along with Shaunte Broadus --wife of Snoop Dogg. "We’re in a relationship where it works for the both of us," Porter, who has one child with Combs, is quoted as saying. "But one day, we definitely will get married."

Of her marriage, Broadus said: "The perks of being married to Snoop Dogg? I have a beautiful white Range Rover, beautiful jewels, but most of all, my three beautiful children: Corde, Cordell and Cori."

Sherlita Patton, wife of OutKast's Big Boi and best-selling author Karrine Steffans (who penned the controversial memoir 'Confessions of a Video Vixen' ) also appear on 'Hip Hop Wives.'

Brand New 'Vibe'

Today, it was officially announced that 'Vibe' magazine is making a major change.

The 12-year old urban culture mag was acquired by the Wicks Group of Companies, a private-equity firm. Eric Gertler and Ari Horowitz, who recently oversaw BlackBook Media, will oversee the property as CEO and president, respectively. The executives are principals of Keith Glen Media Corp.

Kenard Gibbs, who has been the Quincy Jones-founded magazine's president since 2000, announced that he would leave during a morning meeting. Len Burnett, who helped launch the magazine with Keith Clinkscales, will stay in place as group publisher, while Danyel Smith, who served as 'Vibe's' editrix from 1997-1999, before joining Time, Inc, has replaced editor-in-chief Mimi Valdes effective immediately.

Smith, who is married to 'XXL' magazine editor Elliot Wilson, penned the novels 'More Like Wrestling' and 'Bliss' and has also written for 'InStyle,' 'Entertainment Weekly,' 'Rolling Stone,' 'Billboard' and 'Essence.' The Bay Area native most recently hosted 'The Conversation: A New Talk Show with Different Voices' a radio talk show on New York City's public radio station WNYC.

"I have always been a strong supporter and believer in the VIBE brand, and I am thrilled to rejoin as editor-in-chief," Smith said in a statement. "I look forward to strengthening our editorial traditions and our overall music, fashion, culture and style coverage on behalf of 'Vibe' readers."