By Veronica Mixon
August 23, 2003
When the beautiful 21-year-old Beyoncé
Knowles enters the room of a luxury
hotel suite in New York City, her flawless
beautiful nearly takes your breath away.
The leader singer of the popular girl-group,
Destiny's Child has craved not only
craved out a solo singing career with
her album Dangerously in Love
but she's made an easy leap to the big
screen as Mike Myers's pretty sidekick
in "Austin Powers." Her big
golden Afro has been replaced by long
golden tresses and she's definitely
ready to give Mariah and JoLo a run
for their money as singing movie-star
divas.
Here latest film is The
Fighting Temptations opposite
Oscar-winner Cuba Gooding, Jr. in which
she plays a gospel-singing simple mom.
And, while Beyoncé is still unwilling
to talk about her romance with hip-hop
bad boy, Jay-Z, she was very candid
about fame, acting and her life.
The Interview
Your album is a big hit.
How does that feel?
It's been very exciting. The second
single just dropped. I don't know what
to say. It's very, very surreal and
more than what I expected. I didn't
concentrate on selling records. I didn't
even think about anything but my love
for music and what I wanted to sing
about and the type of music that I like.
Some songs don't even have a chorus.
It's very artistic and I grew as a songwriter.
I'm happy that people allow me to grow
because usually when you start out young,
they put you in that box. But I was
able to do the jazz and all of the harmonies
and all of the things in my head. The
album is still no. 1 in Europe and all
over the world and the single is no.
1 for eight weeks.
How did you find out that the
song was no. 1? What was that day like?
I was actually in Europe and it was
no. 1 there. So, it was like... this
is a joke. This is crazy because I didn't
expect it. The single I didn't even
know it was scheduled to put out because
it had this live sound to it and people
didn't quite get it. It was a little
more hip-hop involved. But, they did.
Did the other Destiny Child
girls call you up and congratulate you?
Absolutely! Absolutely! Whenever something
comes out we have their support. Kelly
has her own movie. I'm just so happy
for her and I'm happy that we're able
to have success individually. We support
each other and hopefully, get that out
for other females.
Will Destiny Child
come back together?
Absolutely! We will after my third single,
Kelly finishes her movie and she's doing
another. I'm not sure of the title but
she's just starting it. And, Michelle
finishes her album. She's almost finished
and it sounds great. It will probably
be in the middle of next year.
What attracted you to this
particular movie?
I told my agent that I wanted to do
something that wasn't glamorous, that
was real and she gave me the script.
I read it and said I like the message.
It was a feel good movie and they said
that Cuba [Gooding Jr.] was doing it.
I thought that was great. Terry Lewis
was doing the music. I was a big fan
of [director] Jonathan Lynn. And I didn't
have the pressure of carry the movie
myself. Before I do that I want to know
exactly what I'm doing. I could show
more of my range because it has some
sadder scenes. I could wear no make-up
and have my hair in braids and just
be a regular person with issues that
women go through.
Is acting more satisfying than
music or is there no difference?
Whenever I'm work at anything and it
happens, I'm satisfied. I love movies
and I feel like probably when I have
something really, really challenging,
I'll be satisfied. This movie, I'm very
happy with the music and the whole thing.
Do you ever worry about the
audiences accepting you as a regular
person? Was it easy portraying a single
mom?
It was very easy. I grew up in my mom's
hair salon. So, I was around women -
all kind of women. They were all strong
women. It's important for people to
know who I am and I am very different
from whom I am on stage. It's more important
for me to be taken seriously. I know
I'm very young and I have a long way
to go. I didn't want to do the traditional
safe Beyoncé being glammed-up
role.
Like the Mariah Carey mistake?
[Clears her throat.] I didn't say that.
At home, you wouldn't be this
glammed up?
I like nice clothes and when I go out,
because I have US Weekly and People
taking pictures of me, I have to look
all right! [Laughs] If it takes more
than five minutes, then it's not my
thing. Whatever is quick.
So, you don't wear make up
when you're out at the supermarket?
I don't wear a lot of make up even in
my videos, I don't wear make up. But,
I have to make sure that I'm presentable
because there might be someone sneaking
with some cameras and I'll be mad.
There was a picture this week
[week of August 19, 2003] in your bikini
in St. Tropez. They said that Jay-Z
was there. Do people know you there?
Do you need bodyguards?
This vacation was different from the
last one. [Laughs] More people recognize
me which is a good thing when you're
on stage and a bad when I'm trying to
be on vacation and there are cameras.
Were you able to sit on the
beach or did you have to go to somebody's
private pool?
If I wanted to go to the beach, I could
go for a second. I still had a great
time and I'm not complaining but it
is harder.
You're considered a role model.
Is there more pressure to keep your
figure and looks?
Well, I know that when you're in the
public eye, people look up to you, especially
young girls. I understand that and I
respect that. But, I can't be responsible
for anyone but myself. I try to give
the message for people to accept their
imperfections and to love their bodies
and to love - basically not concentrate
so much on it but to concentrate on
your character and the person you and
the beauty shines through. That's why
I wrote "Bootylicous" which
actually in the dictionary now.
Do you understand why girls
want to look like you?
That's why I think it's important to
do movies like this because you can
show me not looking so thin and not
looking so beautiful. [Laughs]
Do you have a spiritual influence?
I feel like that's what keeps me thinner.
Even though my life on the stage and
how I perform is very different from
whom I am, ultimately, I'm surrounded
by people that are spiritual and keep
me grounded and in touch with reality.
When I pray and I go to church in Houston,
I feel like I'm rejuvenated and I feel
like I can cry. I feel like I'm safe
and it's very important to me.
Are your parents still involved
in your career or are there other people?
My parents are still involved. My father
is my manager and my mother is a stylist.
It's more of a collaboration because
now that I'm a lot older. I approve
of everything. But, it's great because
if I'm not there to do something, I
have people that I can trust.
After all of the effort to
make you successful, has the pay off
been worth it?
It's getting harder but it's still worth
it. I'm in a very happy place even though
it's getting tougher and I'm getting
a little scared.
Why is it scary?
Especially in Europe, whenever I go
anywhere, it gets crazy.
You mean it's a mob of people?
More so than the press. It's a part
of it and it's happening gradually.
Like the last "Austin Powers"
movie, there were maybe five people
outside the hotel. Then after an album,
maybe [it] were ten people. I can deal
with it. I do know reality and I know
why they're following me. And, I know
that really they don't know me and they
are trying to get that change and you
know I'm not mad at them. When I work
so hard to make a good album and make
a good movie and I hear people singing
along, it's worth it.
How many people are there now?
One Hundred?
I don't know. I'm amazed at how people
find out where you are.
Is crazy now that you're dating
Jay-Z that there are two celebrities
involved? Is that a protection for you
in a way?
Well, I never talk about whom I'm dating.
You don't have to. Everybody
else does!
That's OK. They can. I can say that
not only with dating just in general
that people are fascinating with celebrities.
That's just how it is. So, the more
celebrities, the harder it is.
You seem so nice and normal.
How do you stay so sweet?
I have people around me that just don't
want their jobs. They care about me
and they can say, 'OK, calm down.'
What's your next movie?
I'm not sure exactly? I have a lot of
scripts. The hardest thing is time.
I want to do a tour with Destiny's Child
and another album. So, when am I going
to have time? I want to make sure I
do the right movie.
Talk about some of the other
singers in Fighting Temptations.
The studio was the most incredible thing
because I was able to watch The O'Jays,
Angie Stone. I respect them so much
especially The O'Jays because they've
been around so long. I hope Destiny's
Child will be like them. They are so
soulful. Just to be around everybody
and all that soul. When we performed
the songs together, it felt like a family.
Angie and I are still good friends.
She's a beautiful person. You can talk
to her and tell her anything.
You sing, you dance and you're
so talented. Is there anything you can't
do?
[Pause] I can't cook.
You're from the South and you
can't cook?
I know! It's a shame! Can't fry no chicken.
When I was growing up, I was always
in the studio. I can write a song but
I can't cook. I never had a kitchen.
I always have room service. My mom can
cook and can really cook! But it's a
shame. People know you're from the South
and they say, let me go over to your
house and I'm like 'Oh, you don't want
to do that.' I tried to cook some French
Fries and it was a disaster.
How did you prepare for the
love scene?
I was very nervous. I don't know how
you prepare. It was very strange. Every
day I was like, is this the kissing
scene day.
Speaking of scripts, could
you ever see yourself doing something
like Halle Berry's "Monster's Ball?"
I'm 21. I have no idea what I'm going
to do when I'm 31. Right now, I'm too
nervous when I have to do a kissing
scene.
Why do you still live in Houston?
I still go to the Mall in Houston. My
church is there. My family and my heart
is there.
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