Emmanuelle Chriqui: "In the Mix" with Usher

When we last spoke with this gorgeous, child-voiced, dark-haired actress, she was starring opposite N'Sync's Lance Bass in a film. Now, Canadian born Emmanuelle Chriqui plays a Mafia princess who scores Usher as her bodyguard and more in the romantic film In the Mix. The actress isn't sure why she has been matched with pop star legends starring in films but it's okay by her. You might have seen her most recently guesting on the HBO hit "Entourage".

According to the beautiful young actress, she and Usher had great chemistry in the film and remained friends afterwards, even shopping together when he is in L.A. Emmanuelle looked very upper-crusty in a gorgeous beige wool coat that she kept from her posh film wardrobe, a sheer beige blouse, huge gold hoop earrings, jeans and red flats. So what's it like being the cinema love object of a guy as hot as Usher? Stay close and we'll let Emmanuelle tell ya....

TeenHollywood: What was the audition process like for you on this? Usher was an executive producer so it was his final choice.

Emmanuelle: I came in on the last leg of the audition process. The casting director told two of the producers and the director, 'do not make your decision. You have to see one last girl'. I was in New York shooting something so I was flying back and forth. It was crazy time. Going in initially, all I hoped for was 'oh please, just let me get to the screen test'. It was a personal goal so I did...with Usher. I had the feeling, if I could just get in the room with him, I can really do this.

TeenHollywood: Were you a fan?

Emmanuelle: I was a fan. I didn't own any of his albums but if I heard his song I would for sure get down to it. I love his music.

TeenHollywood: What was it like working with him?

Emmanuelle: Amazing. He's so fun. He's a tremendous actor and talent. He crossed over into the film world seamlessly.

TeenHollywood: Why are so many singers or rappers doing that lately?

Emmanuelle: Someone once told me that a lot of the most dynamic actors are people that have stories, people that have lived life. People with experiences. Certainly, a lot of these people do. Their stories are amazing. There is so much to share. It goes beyond what is in their songs.

TeenHollywood: Did you have any preconceived notions about Usher before working with him?

Emmanuelle: I didn't expect anything. I had done On the Line with Lance Bass and Joey Fatone so I was very familiar with the music world. I don't even sing but I thought to myself, 'I have great contacts! [laughs]. Working with those guys, having them cross over, they were so gracious and amazing and I was hoping it would be as enjoyable and it was. You can't compare them but just the experience of working with an uber-star. Lance and Joey, at the time, were at the height of their career. It was very similar in that capacity. Usher was awesome.

TeenHollywood: Did he surprise you in any way?

E: A lot of seasoned actors have the ability to give you something different on every take. It'll never be the same and Usher did that naturally. I don't even do that. I wish I could be more free with that. It came effortlessly with him. It was amazing and inspiring. It's like a 6th sense. He's a natural.

TeenHollywood: Did you get to hang out between scenes or off set at all?

Emmanuelle: Oh, totally. It was only a five week shoot so it was really intensive and exhausting. So, after work wasn't so much an option to hang because Usher was doing a million other things at the same time be we absolutely kept in touch. Like, whenever he comes to town we'll go to lunch or go shopping. I brought him to my place which is the Bodhi Tree book store (a metaphysical book shop in L.A.) and I'm like 'you need this. You need to protect yourself'. He brought me to a store called Fresh on Sunset and that was great. We bought incense and candles. We both love scents so we bonded on that. He's become a great friend.

TeenHollywood: Do you have any romantic experience dating someone from another culture?

Emmanuelle: Yes I have. I grew up in Toronto which is a very multi-cultural city. I went to high school where it was everybody under the sun. I totally dated very much outside of what I am [French, Jewish, Moroccan] several times. It was I guess, coming from a Jewish family at first it was a little like 'oh.. we wanted you to be with a Jewish guy'. But I didn't live in a Jewish community so it was like well, this is what it is. That stuff is so irrelevant to me. People in my family and close to me knew that it's not about that. It's really if you find somebody who is going to treat you well and you respect and love each other, that's what it's about.

TeenHollywood: Are you with someone now?

E: I have a boyfriend. It's crazy. He's the first Jewish guy I've ever dated. My dad is thrilled.

TeenHollywood: Most fun scene in In the Mix for you?

Emmanuelle: There were several. I thoroughly enjoyed my scene with Chazz Palmentieri [who plays her dad] when he catches us [she and Usher's character] in the spa just because that day was so awesome, working that closely with Chazz. He was so there for me. I felt like we nailed the dad and daughter relationship. At least it felt that way. He was great to work with. Then, the dancing scene [with Usher] was too much fun. The music was up and I love to dance. The whole thing was a little humiliating. Not because of Usher but dancing with Usher in front of a club full of Usher fans. I was nervous.

TeenHollywood: Is Usher your fave onscreen kiss so far?

E: Fantastic. He's one of them. Lance was great, Jonathan Tucker was great. No nightmare kissing scenes but I've had tight-lipped kissing scenes where I was like 'that can't look good'. But it's been alright.

TeenHollywood: What are you shooting right now?

Emmanuelle: A film called The American Standard and it's a psychological thriller loosely inspired by Body Heat. I am working with Ashley Scott, Pell James, Luke Mably, Matt Long, Joe Pantoleone.

TeenHollywood: Where do you live now?

Emmanuelle: I split my time between L.A. and New York. It depends on what I'm doing. I've been spending a lot of time in L.A. because I'm working but when it's down time I head to New York.

TeenHollywood: What do you do for fun?

Emmanuelle: I love so many things. I'm really into alternative therapy. I could spend days at the Bodhi Tree, reading and researching. All that 'what the bleep do we know?' kind of stuff. I just love that. It's hard to describe what it is but it's a lot of meditation, yoga and a lot of workshops and reading. I love to fill my time with that stuff.

TeenHollywood: What have you learned about myself in the last year?

Emmanuelle: I kind of realized that I'm confident about what I have to offer, not just as an actress but I have the ability to spread light, if you will. It goes beyond my work realm. If I can touch people I feel pretty confident that I will. That's a nice thing to realize. I can connect with people.

TeenHollywood: Music you listen to?

Emmanuelle: Marvyn Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Sade.

TeenHollywood: Any ring tones?

Emmanuelle: No. I have the most ancient cell phone in the world. I won't give it up. It works. I never get no service. It ain't broke so don't fix it.

TeenHollywood: Any good conversation starters when meeting people?

Emmanuelle: Ask 'what do you eat in the morning?' It changes with me, oatmeal, eggs, bacon, fruit. It tells a lot about a person. It's either like 'oh, I don't eat breakfast' or 'I go to McDonalds'. It's not a deal breaker. It just tells a lot about a person... if they take care of themselves.

TeenHollywood: What place are you dying to go to on a dream vacation?

Emmanuelle: There are so many; Greece, Turkey. I would love to go to Bali and Indonesia. I've never been to Morocco and decorate my entire place like that. I traveled a lot with my family growing up but Morocco was not one of the places my parents wanted to go back to. They left 30 some odd years ago and they left because they kind of had to. It was bittersweet. They had a lovely upbringing there but it changed a lot and they came to Canada and that was that. My whole family is still in Canada. I'm the only one here.

TeenHollywood: Beauty products you love?

Emmanuelle: There are three I live by: Cetaphyl anti-bacterial soap. I wash my whole face with it. Eye cream Dermalogica, morning and night. Can't sleep without it. Chapstick.. like Burt's Bees and my sunscreen from my dermatologist.

TeenHollywood: Are more of your movies coming out?

Emmanuelle: After Sex is being completed at the moment. Waltzing Anna is finished but I don't know what is happening with it. I'm going back to [the TV show] 'Entourage' next season. It's fantastic. It's a boy's club but the best kind. They are all hilarious and sweet. Playing 'E's girlfriend, I was so welcomed. I think it's close to what really goes on. Personally I think they could explore more of the darker side of stuff. They could go further. It's such a smart and funny show. You watch and say 'oh, my God, I know that'. I'm back in Jan or Feb.

TeenHollywood: Do you hang out with the guys at all?

Emmanuelle: I keep in touch with Kevin Connelly and whenever I see any of the guys it's amazing, we'll say 'hey' and hang out the rest of the night.

TeenHollywood: What do you like most about guys in general?

Emmanuelle: I feel so comfortable with guys. Most of them are not petty. There's no drama. It's like 'hey, you wanna go see a movie?', 'yeah, sure'. Or, 'no, I'm tired'. 'okay, cool'. It's not like a 20 minute explanation of why they can't go to the movie. It's simple. I love that about guys.

TeenHollywood: Any research for the part of a Mafia princess?

Emmanuelle: I watched certain movies. I read 'The Godfather' and saw all the Mafia movies because I love those. I watched Moonlight and Valentino with Cher and the Spike Lee Jungle Fever just stuff to inspire me. The rest was pretty organic and in the writing. Who Dolly [her character] is in the beginning is very much not who I am. I was a hippy chick in a past life for sure and Dolly is buttoned up and her hair is slicked back and she's studying law and that's not be.. it was just getting into that mode of being more conservative.. daddy's little rich girl. That was fun.

TeenHollywood: What's a dream role for you?

Emmanuelle: It's ever-changing, but I would love to do a period piece. I would love to do a Shakespeare adaptation. I would love for someone to do "Taming of the Shrew," and then I get to play crazy Kate. That would be amazing. There's so much I would want to do. I feel like it's just the beginning, the tip of the iceberg.

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Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.