By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
"It means a great deal to me," Janet Jackson said of her starring role in Tyler Perry's latest movie, 'Why Did I Get Married?' -- opening in theaters this Friday.
"I wanted to get back into acting and wanted to find the right script and the right role," she said of her role as Patricia, a therapist who grapples with her very own personal demons of the past.
Jackson 's last film was 2000's ''The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps,' where she played opposite Eddie Murphy in a super-sized likeness of an overweight teacher and his overweight family members.
The 41-year-old pop music icon said the main reason why she chose to star in Perry's mature romantic comedy was for the fact that she would appear in it alongside an array of actors including Malik Yoba, Sharon Leal, Tasha Smith, Richard T. Jones, Denise Boute, Michael Jai White and others.
"I didn't want to be a lead for a film because I didn't have enough time to dedicate to it at that point," she explained, adding, "so trying to find an ensemble piece that I felt really good about [made it] perfect"
"So there was no time to prep ... those were the things that kept me up at night," she added.
When it comes to relating to her character -- a very well put together best-selling author, lecturer and professor --
On the horizon for the former 'Good Times' and 'Fame' actress is a new album, which will reportedly be executive produced by Antonio "
While she seemed to gloss over answering specific questions about that project,
In talking to The BV Newswire some light had to be shown on her roller coaster weight fluctuations -- which always seem to make major tabloid fodder.
It's been documented that
"I don't read any of the stuff they say but I wouldn't put anything a pass them," she said of media reports making a big deal about it. "But at the same time, I don't think there's any wrong in that. It's just like a fighter getting ready for a fight.
"But I haven't always been that way," she rationed. "For the 'Nutty Professor,' I was up in weight with [the song] 'Doesn't Really Matter.' I was going through my divorce at that time and that was a troubling time for myself, but it's been a journey."
"People are very quick to pass judgment on others but they never know what a person is going through and what makes them do certain things. So when people even ask me about Britney [Spears], I say 'Don't ask me, there are too many [assumptions] ... everyone is assuming and everyone is quick to pass judgment but no one really knows what this child is going through."
As reported heavily in the mainstream media, the former chart-topping superstar recently lost custody of her two young children -- following a series of events that include questionable parenting skills and catastrophic career choices.
"I can't even say that I've been there,"
"The only thing we have in common," she concluded, "is that we're both female, we're both into music and we're both in the public eye and we've both been successful at it, and we both have our issues."
1. It's the medias job to keep us interested. Whatever they must do ~ I will always be a fan. In fact, I get excited everyday as I am preparing for a stage production that I will cherish of all my productions past and future. On January 19, 2008 ~ I'm paying tribute to Janet & Aaliyah ~ a night of dancing from the heart and soul. I'm working on the poem now that will be weaved using some of the titles from all of your recordings ~ movies. The producer I'll be working with for the track to accompany the poem is mad hot. And yes, I will put it out there ~ I hope that you and/or a few people from your camp can attend as well as from Aaliyah's camp. I made a promise to myself as a full-time poet that "Baby Girl" would NOT be forgotten. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit a charity Janet supports and The Aaliyah Memorial Fund. Be blessed and keep on the journey!!! Remember, it's when they stop talking that you worry and wonder~smile~.
Faith & Favor,
Rebecca "Butterfly" Vaughns
Int'l Spoken Word Artist
Miami, FL
www.cdbaby.com/vaughns4
mindpensoul@aol.comn
Rebecca Butterfly Vaughns at 10:12AM on Oct 8th 2007