September 2002 Barbershop : An Interview with Eve

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Interviewed by Monikka Stallworth Barbershop : An Interview with Eve Eve is not the attitudinal redhead punk-ette that I had come to associate with her name. She actually seems more like one of my homegirls: a medley of sugar and spice, a modest and radiant vixen and yet, very grounded. With a small role in this summer’s box office hit XXX and a big role in the upcoming Barbershop, it’s clear that Eve’s star has only just begun to shine. Read on… MS: You do a great job in this film, was it easy for you to be so sassy? E: That’s me, sometimes though, not all the time. MS: Why did you want to be a part of Barbershop? E: I loved the script and I loved my character Terri. I really relate to her and I felt like it wouldn’t be so far-fetched from what people see everyday on TV of Eve the rapper. I didn’t want to go too far out of myself. I wanted people to be able to take it in and say ‘okay, she’s acting.’ MS: What was the impetus for you to begin acting? E: Well, at first I didn’t want to act, just because everyone else was doing it and I don’t follow trends and I was like, they’re only approaching me because I’m hot at this moment. It sounds corny to say this, but I was watching this movie Sling Blade with Billy Bob Thorton and I was inspired, I swear I was. He played his character so well, I loved the way that he brought the character across and I felt like, a door’s open, why not take the opportunity and I don’t know, see what happens. MS: I heard you went to Barber College to prepare for your role, how was that? E: It was cool. We went to Barber college for a week, but I will never ever be cutting hair again. I’m scared to knick people. It’s too nerve racking for me. And a friend of mine actually let me cut his hair, but he went to his barber right after he left me. (Laughter) MS: Is this character close to the Eve we know as a rapper? E: She’s close to Eve the person. I’m the only female in the camp called the Rough Riders and I’m used to being around testosterone and dealing with it. Also, she displays her vulnerability when it comes to this man who treats her horrible and cheats on her and I’ve been through that situation. She finally comes to her senses and lets him go. And also, being mad about that apple juice. I totally get that. That is just disrespect – don’t touch my stuff! I’ve been through that situation with a box of cereal – it was so funny, it was the same exact situation (as the one in Barbershop) and I still don’t know to this day who ate my cereal. I was on tour, I think it was my bus driver. So I really related to her. I liked her a lot. MS: How was it to work with Ice Cube, another rap artist turned actor? E: He helped me out a lot on set. I had some things that I didn’t know about as far as camera and blocking and he had some good advice for me. MS: There are still so few females in hip-hop, just curious, are you and Queen Latifah friends? E: I have met her and I see her and we do know each other and she is so supportive and I love her to death. I can’t even explain the respect that I have for her because of the fact that if it weren’t for her, it would be no me. And she’s opened up doors in many ways. Every time I see her, it’s love. She’s very encouraging. MS: I’m sure you’ve heard about Sam Jackson comments regarding rappers becoming actors? Do you have any comment? E: I respect his opinion. Everyone’s entitled to his or her opinion, but this is a business. The people that make these movies understand that if you get some mainstream artists in your movie, you can fill up some more seats in the movie theater and that’s just it. And a lot of us are good. A lot of us are good actors. Don’t box us in. I totally respect his opinion because he’s been trained to be an actor all his life. And a lot of actors and actresses have been training since they were babies. And for us, yes, it comes easier for us. MS: Why do you think it comes easier? E: I don’t mean the acting, I mean getting the roles. MS: Speaking of roles, your in another big movie this summer, XXX? E: Yes, I play Vin Diesel’s best friend and partner in his underground web site business and just last week in Variety Magazine, it was written that they might extend my part, so I’m hoping…I would love that. MS: How was it to work with Vin Deisel? E: Vin is so cool. He’s really got a good heart and he’s really calm. MS: You must be very busy these days, is it difficult maintaining a personal life? E: I have a “like” life. I like everybody and I don’t have a love life, it’s horrible. I’m very single. Do you know somebody? (laughter) In all honesty, I’m so busy, I do not have the time for a relationship. I would be so selfish because I would just want to be in love when I would want to be in love. MS: Do you have an ideal type of guy? E: I always say I just want a grown-ass-man. (laughter) I want somebody who is well-rounded, very determined, very confidant with who they are, with what they want to do in life, somebody honest and real and that’s it. That’s hard to find though, but that’s it. MS: Would you like to have a family? E: Oh yes, to me that is the ultimate blessing. You haven’t lived until you’ve raised a family and become a wife and mother. MS: You seem to be so grounded, with all that’s going on in your life right now, how do you maintain that quality? E: God, prayer, my mother, good people around me, I have really good people around me, my team is great, but God is the center of everything for me. MS: What’s next for you? E: My third album, Eve-O-Lution will be out in two weeks, August 27. MS: What’s the style of Eve-o-lution? E: It’s more upbeat than any of my other albums. I sing more on this album and I think you can hear the growth artistically, and lyrically I definitely think you can hear the growth. I think it’s a well-rounded album – I have some dance tracks, some hard, street tracks, I have a song called “As I Grow” that has 25 kids singing on the hook. And Alicia Keys is on my first single.