EG: I had an opportunity to sit down and talk with Janet, the conversation centered on music and her latest foray into the movies.

EG: Thank you for sitting with us, appreciate it. Let's talk a little about the movie first obviously. When you got the call to say that Eddie was interested in you, were you surprised?

JJ: Actually yes. I actually got a call that Pete Segal and Michael, one of the guys that works with him, wanted to meet with me. So that was the first call I got, not necessarily that Eddie was interested in me. And we met and they didn't really have a script at the time. They walked me, talked me through the script and asked me if I would audition. I was, I was very surprised.

EG: Did you have any apprehension?

JJ: I'm not the funny person. More of the straight person and Eddie's the funny person. Having any apprehension? No. Plus I guess that's because having done sitcoms when I was a kid so I was pretty familiar. Even though it's still different, I was kind of, I remembered that. That feeling and the timing and all of that. Growing into it and doing Good Times and Different Strokes and any kind of family.

EG: You are an icon in and of yourself in the music industry. But coming over and working with someone who's a, by most people's account, a comedic genius, must've been...

JJ: He is a comedic genius, and it must've been... I'm sorry to cut you off...

EG: Go ahead

JJ: It must've been an incredible experience?

EG: There you go

JJ: Yes it was, in just, in such awe I was in sitting there and watching him come in the morning and saying good morning to everyone as Eddie... Eddie's voice, but he's dressed as Sherman or as Momma or as Grandma. And then just like that [snaps] in an instant, going into the character. The, the mannerisms, the facial expressions, the voice. Just amazing. And sometimes I totally would forget that I'm here supposed to... I'm supposed to be here talking to Momma, but I'm sittin here going. "Oh my god, Eddie Murphey is so amazing". I'm sitting here looking at him, thinking this.

EG: A lot of people will ask, "Why so long in between pictures for you?" And what about this project that made you say: "Yeah, I definitely wanna try"?

JJ: I had gotten a lot of scripts that I was reading. It was either a scheduling problem or I really didn't care for the script that much. Or it was more along the lines of Poetic Justice, and I wanted to do something completely different. So this coming along and knowing it would be a wonderful project just to be working with Eddie alone and it being Nutty Professor. I was really excited when they called me.

EG: There is a buzz about the movie already. A word they like to use in Hollywood, buzz, before it hits. Everyone is anticipating it to be one of the largest movies of this summer. When they're talking about a hundred million dollars and the like, is it more daunting for you? Do you lose a little more sleep thinking about the success of it?

JJ: In total honesty for myself, no. Because, I don't feel there is as much pressure on my shoulders this time around as there was with Poetic Justice. Cause I'm not carrying the film. Eddie carries the film, playing five different characters, so to me, it truly is his film, his piece. I just had a wonderful time working on the project. And even though I am in it a great deal, it's more of his piece.

EG: What about the improv? I've had the oppurtunity to sit and interview Eddie a couple times. And just trying to do that in an hour, I mean he just is all over that... I mean, he really is a comedic genius and he can just go. How was that and having to play off of that?

JJ: Well, I did not do a lot of add-libbing. I felt there was no need to try and have to be funny or have to say something just because he add-libbed. The hardest thing for me was to keep a straight face. And a lot of times... We shot with more than one camera pretty much all, the entire movie, and I called myself turning away from the camera that was on and I'd whined up turning into another camera trying to keep a straight face or to show... not to show my camera that I'm laughing. And it was very difficult. That was the most difficult thing for me.

EG: The last time you and I spoke extensively, you were doing your tribute, as i called it, to Dorothy Dandridge, the Twenty Fourplay video. And subsequently we've seen a film about Dorothy Dandridge with Halle Berry on HBO, and I know that had been something you wanted to do. Have you given up on that project because that happened or do you wanna go down that road?

JJ: The important thing for me, for more of the world to get to know who she truly was, and that was the reason I wanted to do the film. I loved her since I was a kid and I met with her. Her manager, he came over for lunch and brought this huge boxes of all this memorabilia and pictures. And I actually had written to him when I was about fourteen years old and he wrote me back. It was the first person I've ever written and the last person actually. But it was important for me for the film to be done and I was in no race. A lot of people said, "Oh, you better hurry and get on the boat... get on it, cause so and so is going to do it." And I was in no race, and if someone else was to do it before me, then so be it. And as long it was done to her liking, knowing that she's watching.

EG: You want to do a lot of acting?

JJ: My heart is definitely there. I'll never give up singing, but most definitely.

EG: Did you purposely only do one song? Is it something that you just wanted to lend yourself to, because it's good marketing obviously for the film or was it something that you decided that, "Hey i wanna be viewed as an actress more in this project"?.

JJ: Once they told me I had gotten the part, I actually offered to do a song and they said that they wanted to ask me but they didn't know if I'd say yes or no. But I had actually offered and I didn't know if they would be interested or not. and I... I just... I don't know... I guess being a singer, I thought knowing that they had the soundtrack for the last Nutty... I thought it would be fun to do something on this one.

EG: What are your expectations as you look at this particular picture in terms of where it can take you.

JJ: That's a good question... Well hopefully to the next level.

EG: Which is in your mind what?

JJ: Not necessarily doing more comedic things. Maybe more dramatic things. It being different from Poetic Justice, showing a different side of something I am capable of doing and hopefully the people will like it. I think more so than anything for people to hopefully not see the singer, but see Denise. This woman who is so deeply in love with Sherman, and can feel the love that she has in her heart for him. That to me is really important, for people to feel that and hopefully they will. It's very important for me to be able, for them to be able to seperate that.

EG: Do you concern yourself with the critics who perhaps will not see you as a quote unquote bonafied actress. As someone who is just trying to act? A singer as we see so many now?

JJ: I can't think about that. It's much easier said then done, believe you me, but I can't think about that because if I do, it will...I will not get to where I wanna go truthfully. And I have to keep my eye on my goal which is perfecting the craft and learn as much as I possibly can about it. Keep my head up and keep moving on.

EG: Let's get back to Eddie Murphy briefly.

JJ: Sure

EG: Often you'll see someone of that stature particularly when they are equal, of equal stature, and it is sometimes hard for the other to lend a hand and obviously, comedically, he had to do that for you to be a success in the movie. I assume that it was a good working relationship and a fun one.

JJ: I truly had the best time. I... We shot for six months and I didn't want it to end. I really didn't and as the... counting down those days knowing that it was coming to an end, I was just trying to take everything in cause I knew soon it will be a memory. He was such a gentlemen, and so wonderful to work with. The crew, they were so kind, so nice....and it was such a wonderful experience. And I know every film is not like that that's why I was really just taking it all in. I had the best time.

EG: What is the funniest thing in the movie? In your opinion

JJ: I think the scenes with Grandma and Buddy Love... those were pretty... And she's my favorite character.

JJ: She reminds me a great deal of my grandma when she was alive.

EG: And you know, it's funny, because you say she... It almost takes on a life of it's own. As if she truly is a person, doesn't it? I mean, he's that good at it.

JJ: Everyone can relate to at least someone within that family and he brings that to life. He really does... each character.

EG: Let's clarify for people when you say she reminds you of your grandmother... because the trailor...

JJ: Oh! No... not in the...No! She just... She's just has so much character and has so much life to her. She doesn't act her age in any way and that's how my grandmother was and she was just... My grandmother was the life of the party for me and that's the way grandma is to me.

EG: For those who'll see the trailor, you'll know why I clarified that.

EG: After we talked about her new movie and her participation on the soundtrack, I brought up the subject of recent headlines. The news that Janet and long-time lover, Rene Elizondo, have actually been husband and wife for nine years.

EG: As you know, people wanna know more than they need to about celebrities. Whatever your comfortable with, can you share with the public what you want them to know at this point?

Janet: It's... It's just a really sad thing, you know, for it to happen. Unfortunately life is ever-changing and I'm in a new space now and a much happier place.

EG: Press account said that you suggested it had nothing to do with keeping a quote sexy image. It was about trying to keep a marriage together in your privacy.

JJ: Growing up in this business, always being in the public eye, and I've always felt that it's... That you're never given a fair chance. Immediately when they know some people try to knock it or it won't last or they..., for instance, and not to bring them into it, but a lot of people did the same thing with Bobby and Whitney. And I know they have their things that they're going through and they'll work through them, I hope so. And and...But look at how long they've stayed together. Some people say, "I give it six months" or "I give it a year and that's such negative energy....that's such negative energy going into such a beautiful thing. And I wanted my privacy and just trying to have a true, normal family life as much as I possibly could. So in doing so I had... We had to... We felt to...

EG: How hard was it for you to have to deny though, the marriage, the institution of it. I mean, you and I have talked about it in the past and clearly, everytime...

JJ: Did I enjoy all those times being asked? Is that what you're asking? Saying no no, is that what you're saying to me? Part yes and part no. No, cause I knew what was truly going on, but I knew in my heart why I was doing this. So that, that made it okay for me because that was very important and that's what I really wanted more than anything... Was to keep that together. To make sure that was okay.

EG: When you sit at home what are you thinking about now, I mean, I suspect that when it hit the papers... You had to say, "Geez, now what!?!"

JJ: Well it's not the first time that I've had to deal with something such as this. It's never pertain to me, but I've always, having so many sisters and brothers, there was always in the press going on with someone. And it always seemed, for myself, as if I was the one to answer all the questions or they felt that I was the one who had all the answers. Only because I really do feel, I was the one doing the most press out of my entire family. So I was the one bombarded with all the questions, so so it's not the first time I've been put in this position.

EG: Are you surprised at the route it's taken?

JJ: Yes....i truly am. It's very shocking to myself as well as to my friends.

EG: Let me ask you about the next musical project and whether you are making the conservative effort to put it on the back burner and try to find an acting project... Where are you?

JJ: I've never stopped actually since I came off tour. And like I said, the scripts were coming in. When they called me in for Nutty, I was preparing for the next album, the project. And they said, "So we heard you're working on a album, is that gonna... You know...? Is that gonna conflict with us wanting to do this film if you wanted to do this part?" I said, "No, I'm just taking my time with it and if you want me for this, I'll just put it on hold and do the film and continue afterwords" which is what I'm doing.

EG: Will Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis be a part of it and are there any other producers that you are talking to or currently working with?

JJ: There are a few that I'm talking to which I won't mention because nothing is truly etched in stone... But I am working with Jimmy on the next project as well as Rock... Rockwilder. I love him, such a sweetheart. Just Like a little brother I never had. He's great. I love him so much. He's very talented.

EG: Ballads, Dance, where are you gonna go? What direction are you going to go?