{"id":3099,"date":"2009-01-13T16:46:00","date_gmt":"2009-01-13T16:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/?p=3099"},"modified":"2025-05-06T16:48:28","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T16:48:28","slug":"naturi-naughton-au-naturel-the-notorious-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/2009\/01\/13\/naturi-naughton-au-naturel-the-notorious-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Naturi Naughton au naturel \u2014 the Notorious interview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Naturi Cora Maria Naughton was born on May 20, 1984, in East Orange, NJ where she started singing in the choir at New Hope Baptist Church at just five years of age. She turned pro by 14, when she became a member of the girl band 3LW. The group soon signed with Sony\/Epic Records and went on a nationwide tour while their debut album, entitled 3LW<\/em>, went platinum, selling 1.3 million copies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Away from the entertainment business, Naughton always remained an honor student, attending Seton Hall University where she majored in Political Science until her career became too demanding. Just before her junior year, she joined the Broadway production of Hairspray<\/em> as Little Inez. As gifted as gorgeous newcomer may be, she remains humble and grateful to God for her blessings, and praises her parents for supporting her dreams and for raising her with so much love, encouragement, and faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, Naughton talks about her performance as Lil\u2019 Kim in the much-anticipated motion picture, Notorious<\/em>, a bio-pic about the late rapper Notorious B.I.G. (a.k.a. Christopher Wallace). In addition, she recently landed a lead role in the re-make of the screen version of Fame<\/em>, the 1980 musical revolving around students at the New York Academy of Performing Arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> Hi Naturi, thanks for the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> No problem, thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> What interested you in Notorious?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> Well first off, just the fact that it was a biopic about Biggie Smalls. I was a fan of Biggie growing up and I felt it was about time that someone told his life story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> What song of his is your favorite?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> Juicy! That\u2019s my song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> What did you think of the East Coast-West Coast turf war? Whose side were you on?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> I think it was senseless and I am so glad that we have risen above that East Coast- West coast rivalry. I\u2019m from the East, but I never felt like I had to choose a side\u2026Both coasts have made great music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> Who do you think killed Biggie?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> I have no idea and that\u2019s why his death still hurts so many people to this day. His murder is unsolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> How would you assess Jamal Woolard\u2019s work in the title role?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> Jamal killed it! He captured Biggie so well, it was scary at times. He was made for this role and I had a great time working with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> How was it to make your screen debut with such a talented cast which also included Angela Bassett, Derek Luke and Anthony Mackie?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> Wow! I still can\u2019t believe it. I feel so honored. These actors are people that I looked up to and admired, and here I am, making my debut in a movie with them. It\u2019s really a dream come true!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> How did you prepare to play Lil Kim?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> I studied her\u2026HARD! I watched her in videos, stage performances, behind the scenes footage, and listened to her voice in radio interviews. I also read a lot of material that the director [George Tillman, Jr.] gave me about Kim\u2019s back story. It helped to understand her struggles as a child growing up in Brooklyn. I even went to Brooklyn and spent time in her neighborhood. Talking to the guys from Junior Mafia, especially Lil Cease, helped me out a lot too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> Has Kim seen the film? What does she think of your portrayal of her?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> I don\u2019t know if she has seen the film, but hopefully when she does see it she will be proud of my portrayal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> Is it true that you\u2019re planning to do a duet with her on your debut album? How would describe your sound?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> I don\u2019t actually have an album coming out any time soon. A lot of people are referring to my song \u201cReal Chicks\u201d which was a song I wrote and recorded way before I even knew about Notorious<\/em>. It\u2019s crazy because, back then, I was working with producers from \u201cFull Force\u201d and we thought it\u2019d be hot to get Lil Kim to do a verse on the song. So they made it happen. We never actually did that song in the studio together, though\u2014the song was done and then we put Lil Kim on it. But this all happened over a year before my first audition for Notorious<\/em>. Little did I know that I would soon be playing her in a movie. I am still looking forward to doing solo music. I am just waiting on the right situation and the right team to put it all together. I don\u2019t just want a deal\u2026I want a GOOD deal, so sometimes you have to be patient for that to come around. But when I make my album, it will be R&B with sprinkles of Hip Hop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> You got your start in showbiz as a member of 3LW. How hard was the transition from singing to acting?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> I must admit, it is challenging and requires a lot of hard work. Growing up, though, I always knew I would be a singer and an actress. I just felt it! To me, singing and acting have always gone hand and hand. Even though my career started off as a singer, there is still a level of acting you have to bring to be an artist. Singers have a lot in common with actors because you have to dig deep into a song and show the audience what you are feeling as you sing. You have to be expressive and vulnerable as a singer which is some of the things you have to do to be a good actor. I\u2019m still learning what it takes to be a great actress, but I don\u2019t feel like I am in completely foreign territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> Which do you prefer at this point?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> I want it all! I love to sing\u2026it\u2019s in my heart and it\u2019s a major part of who I am. But I also love to act\u2026its organic. Growing up all my friends used to say \u201cNaturi, you are soooooo dramatic!\u201d.and I would think to myself, \u201cThank you!\u201d [LOL]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> You\u2019ve been on Broadway playing Little Inez in Hairspray<\/em> for a couple of years. Are you going to have to leave the show in order to be able star in the remake of Fame<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> I have been on Broadway for two and one-half years. First off, I am so blessed to have maintained a Broadway gig that long. I loved my experience in Hairspray<\/em> and I credit a lot of my acting success to that experience. I learned so much. But all good things must come to an end. I left the show on October 12 to take the role of Denise in MGM\u2019s Fame<\/em>. I had a great run and I\u2019m excited to start this new chapter of my life. I have recently started shooting for Fame<\/em> and it\u2019s been a blast. I\u2019m so excited to be a part of such an amazing project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> How do you feel about Barack Obama becoming President of the United States?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> I feel so inspired because he achieved something that so many people said was unattainable. I feel triumphant! I voted for Obama and as a young person, it feels good to be a part of history. I believe in change and so many other things that he represents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> Extremely happy, thank God! Both personally and professionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> The \u201cRealtor to the Stars\u201d Jimmy Bayan question: Where in L.A. do you live when you\u2019re out there?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> I just keep it simple. I have a nice apartment right outside of L.A. I\u2019m enjoying my experience out in LA. I am mad they don\u2019t have a \u201cRoscoes\u201d back home in Jersey! [LOL]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> You\u2019re originally from East Orange, New Jersey. Do you still have family there or live there yourself?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> I was born and raised there and most of my family still lives there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> Barack Obama\u2019s Dreams from My Father.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> A lot of times\u2026this is a scary business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> Is there a question no one ever asks you that you wish someone would?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> Umm, I don\u2019t think so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> Music maven Heather Covington\u2019s question: What music are you listening to nowadays?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> I love Beyonce\u2019s new album, I Am\u2026 Sasha Fierce<\/em>. The song \u201cHalo\u201d is great!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> My advice is to be prepared for rejection, but never let people tell you that you can\u2019t do something. If you think Big\u2026you can achieve BIG!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> Rudy Lewis asks: Who\u2019s at the top of your hero list?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> Barack Obama!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> Do you have a website where fans go to hear a sample of your singing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> Actually, yes. Go check out my MySpace page: www.myspace.com\/naturinaughton<\/a>. The song with Lil Kim, \u201cReal Chicks\u201d is on there and a few others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> Do you answer your fan mail?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> Yes, I do, on my MySpace. If it wasn\u2019t for the fans, I would not still be here. They\u2019re dedicated to me and I am dedicated to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> How do you want to be remembered?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> Professionally, I want to be remembered for how hard I worked and how I put my heart and soul into my work. Personally: I want people to remember my heart. I hope they say, \u201cShe really loved people!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KW:<\/strong> Thanks again for the interview, and best of luck with all your endeavors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NN:<\/strong> Thank you so much. I appreciate it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Naturi Cora Maria Naughton was born on May 20, 1984, in East Orange, NJ where she started singing in the choir at New Hope Baptist Church at just five years of age. She turned pro by 14, when she became a member of the girl band 3LW. The group soon signed with Sony\/Epic Records and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[2057,2067,2068],"class_list":["post-3099","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-3lw","tag-naturi-cora-maria-naughton","tag-sony-epic-records","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3099","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3099"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3099\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3100,"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3099\/revisions\/3100"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3099"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3099"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apexsamplework.com\/insightnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3099"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}