"My mom was my main influence growing up, and Phylicia Rashad reminded me a lot of my mother, just th..." — Queen Latifah

I enjoy just being me. I don't need to be Queen Latifah, the brand, 24 hours a day.

I want every day to be life for the living, not just traipsing through it existing. I'm just interested in life and the world and exploring.

There are a lot of people who helped make Queen Latifah who she is today. I don't forget, but a lot of people do and get big heads. My mom will make me walk the dogs or take out the trash when I go home. I'm not allowed to get a big head; I've still got to do the simple things in life.

As a rapper, you sort of act in music videos and in the persona you adopt onstage. You kinda have to put yourself out there and be courageous even to be a rapper. So, to step into acting was not that difficult a transition to make.