Latifah's 'Holiday' Homecoming

Latifah's 'Holiday' Homecoming

January 12, 2006

QUEEN LATIFAH is back on the big screen with an all-new, inspirational comedy, 'Last Holiday'! She headed to her home state of New Jersey for the fan-filled premiere!

"We wanted to do something for New Jersey," she said. "This is a dream come true for me and it just means that every one of these kids, if they put their minds to their dreams, they can accomplish them!"

In the flick, opening Jan. 13, the rapper-turned-actress plays against type as a wallflower who gets a chance to shine. As the meek, quiet Georgia Byrd, she finds out she has only 3 weeks to live. "[She goes] from being this quiet person to doing all the things she's ever wanted to do, and it's quite an adventure," says Latifah.

The brassy celeb was up for playing against type: "Part of the reason I signed up for [the film] is the challenge of playing a character that can be a bit opposite of what I am normally like," she says. "I usually voice my opinion if I feel like I need to and say what's on my mind if I have to."

The versatile performer gets to go on plenty of adventures for the new movie, which sends her snowboarding and snowmobiling in the Austrian Alps. She also climbed onstage to sing the TEMPTATIONS classic "Get Ready" with Motown legend SMOKEY ROBINSON, who flew in to the Czechoslovakia set of the movie just to film his scene with Latifah.

"Singing with Smokey was fantastic," says an ecstatic Latifah. "It was exciting when I met him in the recording studio. I've always been a fan of his, and it's exciting right now."

As a woman who practically does it all, what would Latifah herself do if she had less precious time on this planet?

"If I had three weeks left to live I'd probably want to spend at least some of it with my family, hanging out, reminiscing," she says. "I probably would try to go to a couple of places I'd never been to before. But mostly I'd like to be with those who I love and care about. I think that's what's important."