We’ll see more (and less) of her
Call her a Janet of all trades.
Janet Jackson is part of the ensemble cast of Tyler Perry‘s new film, “Why Did I Get Married.”
She has returned to the studio to record a follow-up to last year’s “20 Y.O.,” due early next year, plus she’s writing a book about her struggle with her weight.
In her first film in seven years, Jackson plays Patricia, a psychologist who’s great at helping others but has trouble taking her own advice.
She stars alongside Perry, Jill Scott, Malik Yoba and Sharon Leal.
Q: Do you find acting and music related?
A: When I write, I write about my life experiences and that’s truthful, it’s putting the truth within it and try to go into recording and singing it from my soul and giving it all of my truth. I think you do the same thing with acting. … You try to bring truth to the character that you’re playing, truth to each and every scene that you do.
Q: Talk about the book.
A: I’m in the midst of writing (about) my journeys of weight loss and weight gain and weight loss. … It’s just really coming from my life, what was going on in my life, from my soul. So many people have asked me about it and how did I do it. Everybody has a story to tell so this is my little story about that portion of my life.
Q: What’s your new album like?
A: It’s still me. I’m still doing myself, really. The reason why I’m saying this is because as of right now, I’m not working with (longtime collaborators) Jimmy (Jam) and Terry (Lewis). … Hopefully we can and we’ll get together and be able to do at least a couple of things together.
Q: You released “20 Y.O.” around your 40th birthday. How do you feel about getting older, especially in a business that so values youth?
A: In my family, age has always been just a number. We don’t trip on it. … But I think I can say – and not boasting, but with a great deal of pride – that I don’t think I look my age. … It’s a matter of how you feel inside. It’s just a number. And I think that plays a great deal in your attitude and how you carry yourself on the outside
Q: What’s going on with Michael?
A: I don’t speak about my brother any more. So that’s my way of saying I’m not going to answer your question.
The birthday bunch
Actress Angela Lansbury is 82. Actor Barry Corbin (“One Tree Hill,” “Northern Exposure”) is 67. Actress Suzanne Somers is 61. Guitarist Bob Weir (Grateful Dead) is 60. Actor-director Tim Robbins is 49. Bassist Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 45. Actress Terri J. Vaughn (“The Steve Harvey Show”) is 38. Singer Wendy Wilson (Wilson Phillips) is 38. Actress Kellie Martin (“ER”) is 32. Singer-songwriter John Mayer is 30. Actor Jeremy Jackson (“Baywatch”) is 27.