Emmanuel Itier: How was it for you to go from singer to actress?

Alicia Keys: Well for sure, as a performer, it helped me a great deal to be a singer. Of course, you don’t face directly an audience, but still you face the camera and a crew that’s around you. So even though it was a different type of preparation and I felt a little bit intimidated at first, very quickly I felt at ease and I really enjoyed acting.

EI: Was it a conscious choice to choose such an edgy role? I mean, you’re dressed pretty sexually aggressive and you handle a gun!

AK: Yes, I wanted to do something that’s totally the opposite of who I am and what I do. I wanted to shock you, and I guess it worked. I like to do different things in life—I try to push the limit, and this was, for me, an exciting part because the character didn’t have anything in common with the real Alicia. Therefore, it forced me out of character to become her.

EI: Do you now have a better and more loveable relationship with guns after this film?

AK: Yes! You do get used to guns after a while. At first, it felt really strange and frightening, but I did lots of practice to familiarize myself with the holding of the gun and loading of the gun. I’m a pro at it now!

EI: Everybody is taking a gamble in this film. What is the biggest gamble you took so far in your life?

AK: Every day for me is a gamble. This was not an easy thing, to get into the music business and now the film business. This was a huge gamble–a leap of faith. You really don’t have too much chance to make it in this line of business, so I’m really blessed to have such a career, and I hope it will last for a while.

EI: How was your relationship with the director, Joe?

AK: Well, for my first experience, I’m glad I had Joe on the set. He was such a ball of energy, and even if I had moments of doubt, they would be gone in an instant because of his supportive and positive attitude. He is such a generous man, and really he supported me a lot in my acting debut. I’m told it’s not always the case that there is such a nice and fun atmosphere on a set, so I’m glad that, for my first experience, everyone was so nice with me.

EI: So are you going to keep doing both the singing and acting?

AK: As long as I’m having fun and finding challenging roles, I will for sure act. Actually, I just signed a producing deal with a studio, and I’m going to develop my own projects. Some I will only produce and some I will also act in…and, of course, music is my passion. I’m working on a new album. So yes, I love it all.