January 2009 | blackfilm.com | NOTORIOUS | An Interview with Antonique Smith

January 2009

NOTORIOUS | An Interview with Antonique Smith

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NOTORIOUS
An Interview with Antonique Smith
by Wilson Morales

January 12, 2009

When casting began for ‘Notorious’, the film on Christopher ‘Biggie Smalls’ Wallace, many newcomers came out vying for the main coveted roles of Biggie, Puff Daddy, Lil’ Kim, and Faith. In landing the spot of Faith, one had to be fair-skinned, be able to sing, and look glamorous and ‘regular’. For Antonique Smith, the spot was hers to lose. Not only does she look like Faith, but she can sing as well, having played the part of Mimi on the Broadway show Rent.

In speaking with Blackfilm.com, Smith spoke about the process of being cast, working with Faith, and being ready for the Hollywood spotlight.

How did this role come about for you?

Antonique Smith: It happened around September of 2007. I don’t I heard about it too far in advance. It was more like ‘They are doing a movie about Biggie and you are being mentioned about playing Faith.’ Instantly, I was like, ‘Oh my God! That’s my role.’ I don’t why. Maybe it was a spirit but I thought that was my role.

Who told you about the spot?

AS: My agent.

Had anyone mentioned to you prior to the start of the film that you looked like Faith?

AS: Not really. I didn’t really get that. I knew that we’re both fair-skinned and we both can sing and basic things that would at least a good chance of getting the role.

Did you do anything special for the audition?

AS: I did. I had seen some of videos and I was going to something like her like laugh and sing like her and I saw one where she was in the studio and she had like a juicy sweat suit but it was really cute; and I didn’t have one of those so I just threw on a funky looking green sweat suit. Not very flattering but it’s al I had. I didn’t want to wear a blonde and be distracting. I didn’t want to jinx it. I went in with my hair in a bun and had minimal makeup on because she’s very pale. So I did all these things and walked in and heard someway say, ‘That’s Faith’. Everyone in the room who knew Faith personally and has seen her at home, and in the studio, with her bun and her sweat suit, thought that I looked like Faith. Good. I accomplished that part. Then I got a call from the wonderful Twinkie, the casting director, who said that I needed to come back with my hair down, and put some makeup on and some tight jeans on, and a bright color shirt and some heels, and not to come in looking like I did before. Then I thought that I didn’t do the right thing. They wanted to see a different look. They wanted to see the glamour side of Faith. Thankfully I was able to pull that off. I did the chemistry test with Jamal and the rest is history.

How was that first conversation with Faith like?

AS: Actually, I had met her previously around 1996 when Biggie was still alive. He wasn’t there and that would have been if he was and mind-blowing. She had written a song for me but I didn’t really know her. We didn’t ever sit and talk. She was quiet. The only times I saw her were at a couple of industry parties. She didn’t say much but ‘Hi’. So I didn’t know her but the first conversation we had she remembered me. That was the icebreaker. She said that a few names were being tossed at her as who would play her but when she heard my name, she thought I was ‘perfect’. There was something in me that she thought was perfect too.

After doing theater and being on Broadway, are you ready for the film world?

AS: I’m ready. I’m so in love with the entire process. When I wasn’t shooting, I was literally asking people what they were doing. I was interested in the entire process from beginning to end. Coming from Broadway, it’s more of a team effort, but in movies, they don’t want to you to comment on anything. That’s for the director and producers to do. I had to learn that. It was pretty much a crash course and I learned the dos and the don’ts in the first week and I think I got it.

How was working with Angela Bassett?

AS: It was wonderful. There is a scene that made me cry. It’s the scene where Violetta Wallace is in the limo crying and she flashes back to us, me and Biggie, in the house with the baby. That was the scene that I got to work with her on and she was so sweet. When we each had a break, we sat and spoke, and after about 10 minutes, I said to myself, ‘She’s still talking to me.

Are you ready for the spotlight once the film is in full gear with the marketing and then the premiere?

AS: I am so ready. I have been waiting for this since I was 3. I have been dreaming and working for this since I was in my teens, but dreaming of it and wanting to it since I was 3. I remembered saying ‘I want to be a star’, but I didn’t know what that meant. I didn’t know what my gifts would be if I couldn’t sing at the age of 3. I’m finally here and I’m so grateful and so thankful. I’m not overwhelmed but it’s really moving that it’s here. I have my team together. I’m working on my album which should be coming out in the spring of next year.

What sort of music will you be singing?

AS: I don’t want to spoil it, but it will be like a fusion because I listen to hip hop. I listen to soul music. I love Aretha Franklin. I love Celine Dion, and Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. I also listen to Rock and Roll.

What do you want your day job to be, singer or actress?

AS: Do I have to choose? I would love to do both. Right now, my day has been acting. I was on Broadway and all my checks have been for acting. It’s been what has catapulted me to where I am now.

What are we going to get from seeing Faith in this film that people don’t know about already?

AS: I think people don’t know how much she really loved him. In my research, she talked a little bit about him in her memoirs and I got that from reading the articles. Her introduction to us was through him. I could see why people might think that she must have married him for money not knowing that she had more money than he did when they met and that he wasn’t famous yet when they met. They really loved each other.

NOTORIOUS OPENS ON January 16, 2008

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