January 2009 | blackfilm.com | NOTORIOUS | An Interview with Naturi Naughton

January 2009

NOTORIOUS | An Interview with Naturi Naughton

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NOTORIOUS
An Interview with Naturi Naughton
by Wilson Morales

January 12, 2009

In playing Lil’ Kim in ‘Notorious’, the person who would play the role had to be someone who could sing, rap, be sexy, and be sassy as hell. Many applied, but only one was chosen and that was Naturi Naughton. Born in New Jersey, Naughton worked her up to be a recording artist, having achieved some success with the girl band, 3LW. Once she left the group, she went to attend Seton Hall University before she landed the role of Little Inez on the National Touring Company of ‘Hairspray’ before she came to Broadway to play the role again.

In speaking with blackfilm.com, Naughton talked about the role came about for her, working with the material she got to play the role without having spoken to Lil’ Kim, and her upcoming film – the remake of ‘Fame’.

Are you ready for stardom?

Naturi Naughton: I’m trying to get ready.

How did the role come about for you and how long was the process?

Naturi Naughton: The process was long. I started around Thanksgiving and I got the role by the end of February of ’08. I would go in but wouldn’t hear back for two weeks. Then they would call me back and I wouldn’t hear back for another three weeks and each time there were more things that I had to develop. I had to go more into character and I had outfits together. I was in it every time that I went in. I went harder every time I went in for auditions.

What made you think you can play Lil’ Kim?

NN: I can do anything I put my mind to. What really gave me the strength and it was not that I didn’t think I could do it, but I feel that when you are really focused and I’m a dedicated actress and singer, I really put my all into everything. I knew I could do this but what I think I needed was just the right encouragement. I don’t think I would be here if it weren’t for the casting directors believing in me. They, Twinkie, Bird, Shout Out and Wendy Mackenzie, were the first to say, ‘This girl is going to be Kim’. I was like, ‘Really?’ I hadn’t even gotten the memo yet. I was on my second callback. I think I can but I didn’t know yet. At that point when they took me under their wing and gave me a lot of direction and they hooked me up with an acting coach. Mimi Lieber, it was like history. From that point on, I said to myself, ‘I’m going to get this. Hollywood and a lot of actresses want it, but I’m going o get it.’

Were you winging it without any acting experience?

NN: No, because I was already acting on Broadway. I’ve in ‘Hairspray’ for 2 ½ years, which I think gave me a great foundation. If it wasn’t for my acting experience doing live theater, which to be honest is some of the best training any actor can have, and I have a foundation of learning that when you are acting, you have it your all and be genuine on all points. When you are on stage, you can’t hide. People’s eyes can catch you at all times and I gave my all on Broadway and here I am just transferring it over to film. I’ve always been prepped for this experience.

Once you had the part, did you try to reach out to Lil’ Kim or did her people try to reach out to you?

NN: I tried to reach out to her. I wanted to talk to her even before I started because I wanted to some insight and I didn’t have that. So I tried and use everything else instead.

So withoutKim on the set, who gave you the best insight to her background?

NN: I got a lot of feedback from Lil’ Cease and the rest of the guys from Junior Mafia, but no one person could really tell me anything overly about her. I did a lot of learning who she was before she was Lil’ Kim and reading about her journey and the struggles she went through as a young woman and as a young child. That to me was speaking to me in a way that told me that I had to tell a story behind what people see and this persona. She’s not all hardcore all the time. The woman has needs. She’s in love. She has feelings. She’s vulnerable and goes through things, just like all of us.

Is there anything on screen that people will see that they didn’t know about her?

NN: Yes. I think that people didn’t know about the intensity of Biggie and Kim’s relationship. I think there has always been skepticism about a possible relationship, but I think when they see this film, they will see how deeply she cared for this man and how she wanted to be the one woman in his life. People will see that she was open and willing to do whatever to be with him and sometimes let herself go lacking and emotionally would damage herself because she really wanted to be with him so much so, but kept playing second to others.

Coming in from the theater world, what are you getting out of this?

NN: A whole new learning experience. It’s crazy. I’m learning patience. It’s not like it’s a schedule where your show is on at 8pm and ends at 10:30pm. This is all day and be patient. You can’t die down because by the time they get to your angle for the film world, you have to be ready. With a show, you do it once and you go home. With a film, you have go over and over until it’s right. You have to ready to do 10 takes. Patience is so important.

How was shooting the spread for King Magazine?

NN: I’m excited. I think it came out really well. I’m proud of how I maintained myself in doing the cover shoot. I was excited about what I wanted to make sure I could do Lil’ Kim in a way where I could still be respected as Naturi. It’s sexy but I wanted it to be classy. I wanted to be in character but I wanted to maintain who I was. I haven’t spoken to all of the actors, but some of the newbies including myself and Antonique, our lives are going to change. Derek said to me to just stay focus on the work and keep your integrity. I’m ready but I’m glad that there are so many people around me who have been through it and giving me jewels of knowledge along the way.

What can you say about your next film role and film, the remake of ‘Fame’?

NN: I am super excited about being in the film. I am playing the role of Denise, who is a classical pianist and she’s also a singer. It’s like the Irene Cara role that was done in the 80s. It’s a new generation for Fame and the issues are so relevant. It won’t be like ‘High School Musical’ or anything bubble gum. We want people to see what it’s like to be a performing arts student and go through the ups and downs. It’s going to be great.

Will you be singing the theme song?

NN: I don’t know yet, but I’m working on that. That is something that we are talking about right now as we are about to record some of the songs. I hope so. It’s one of my favorite.

NOTORIOUS OPENS ON January 16, 2008

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