Gabrielle Union has The Perfect Holiday

You first saw gorgeous actress Gabrielle Union bein' sassy and landing some amazing cheerleader moves in the original Bring It On. Since then she has played an attorney in Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls and she was hot in Bad Boys II, Deliver Us from Eva and Cradle to the Grave. Gabrielle has the distinction of being the first African-American love interest on the mega-popular TV series "Friends".

Gabrielle now plays a beautiful single, divorced mom who has put her dreams on the back burner while she tries to raise her kids in the warm family-friendly film The Perfect Holiday. Girls can relate.. sometimes, it would just make your day if a guy would only give you a compliment. Gabrielle's young daughter in the film is after that and more for her mom from hot Morris Chestnut.

We were able to talk with Gabrielle recently at the posh 4 Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills recently. She looked Winter-stylish in a royal blue Kenneth Cole raglan-sleeved sweater with black gems around the neckline, large hoop earrings, jeans and very tall black boots. Gabrielle is one of the more friendly, chatty Hollywood gals willing to talk about her personal as well as work life. Very refreshing. Check it out...

TeenHollywood: In The Perfect Holiday, your character is a young, divorced mom with three kids. Was that unusual for you to play?

Gabrielle: It's huge for me because I don't have any [kids], nor did I ever babysit or anything. I'm like the aunt that writes checks and does I-chat and that's it. But it was a big challenge because before [in films] I've only had kids one at a time and they were very small and not that instrumental in the film. So, this was a huge challenge for me to convey nurturing for somebody who's not really forced to be nurturing ever.

TeenHollywood: So, did you just research the mom stuff with friends who are moms?

Gabrielle: I asked my mom and my sister and my girlfriend, all of whom have three kids with very distinct and big personalities, basically what it's like. When I read the script I was like 'a compliment? Why doesn't she shoot higher than a compliment?' [Gabrielle's character just wishes a man would pay her a nice compliment]. So, I asked my mom and my sister and they were like 'a compliment would be great'. I'm like 'what are you guys going through?' [laughter]

TeenHollywood: That's pretty sad.

Gabrielle: I realized that they had basically given up everything they ever dreamed of or passion they ever had and put everything into their kids. They feel like every time they want to get their nails done or leave their house without their kids they are a bad mother. This movie is kind of about finding balance. You can still be a good mom and have things you are passionate about, things you want to explore and let that happen outside of your children or husband or relationship. I went on a journey with this woman.

TeenHollywood: Have you had that group of female friends who get you through everything difficult in your life?

Gabrielle: Yes I have. I'm used to going to work and promoting films when they are about to come out but it's generally positive. There's not really a lot of drama. I don't drink and drive. I don't get arrested. I generally don't have big problems. But now, there's such a hunger for every bit of information and it's so negative that you really can't do a lot. I went through a divorce and it's all played out and speculated about everywhere. It can be hurtful. You could be Mother Theresa and they'd say 'well, did you see her smock?' [we laugh]. You can't please everyone and I do have a great group of friends, especially my actress friends and when you get on those times when you don't want to leave the house to be dogged and shredded just because I want to go to Target in my sweats, then, I call my friends and they talk me off the ledge so to speak so it's very important. I have a great network of friends.

TeenHollywood: Do you eat a pint of ice cream like your character when you are depressed?

Gabrielle: [laughs] There are a lot of things. Lemoncello! In the last two years, I got separated from my husband, got a trainer, got a meal delivery service and went back to church. I'm a salad bar Catholic. As my mom says, 'you just pick and choose what you want'. I felt like I needed some direction. I just take the positive things out of it. Instead of going to Fat Burger then happy hour, I try to run on a treadmill or take my dogs out. I turn to my friends instead of keeping my curtains closed and not answering messages.

TeenHollywood: There's a cute scene where you are preparing for a date. What do you do in the same situation?

Gabrielle: Nowadays I put on my Spanx. You've got to fool 'um until they get to know you. If there is a support garment, it's in place. That Doctor from "90210" on TV has a great garment too. It's a part of my ritual. I discovered I-Tunes late and I live on there. I listen to my i-pod and crank it up with everything from Young Jeezy to Dolly Parton. I dance around and have some wine and wish for the best. Please be nice. I hope his text messages are spelled correctly. [we laugh]

TeenHollywood: You and Morris Chestnut have acted together before and you two have some great on-screen chemistry.

Gabrielle: He's just so easy so whenever they ask I suggest him. I think people like us together. He's so free of ego. He's such a gentleman. He's on time and doesn't come with an entourage or fanfare. He's so humble and treats everyone with respect. He knows his lines but he's prepared for ad-libs. He's a good, kind guy and he's not a perve! When you work with people, you never know what you're gonna get. You don't have to worry in intimate scenes! It's not uncomfortable.

TeenHollywood: What is it like working with Queen Latifah as a producer?

Gabrielle: I call her 'El Jefe'. She's a great boss. She understands what an actress goes through. She's a great mentor. I've known her a long time. We've tried to work together for a long time. When she came with this opportunity she was like 'how can I make you comfortable and confident to come in?' Nobody says that except another actor. You can't ask for much more.

TeenHollywood: You are funny in person. Do you like comedy or serious roles or would you love playing a superhero maybe?

Gabrielle: I would love to be a super hero. I love to work. It's dependant on what I'm going through. For the last few years there was enough drama in my own life. I don't play victims well. I'm not attracted to roles like that and those are what get you noticed by the critics. I like to play characters I'd like to see. I don't want to leave the theater more depressed. Those are the sort of roles you are supposed to want, but I don't. I like characters that are strong in their own right and not everything is wrong. I'm getting into producing. We've optioned this book called "The Vow". It's something I'd like to see.

TeenHollywood: What is a holiday tradition for your family?

Gabrielle: My parents got divorced after thirty years so there's my dad and his wife who like to spend Christmas in Hawaii. So, there's a Christmas where we're roasting pigs and dirty dancing at a famous drag show! Last year my mom became a foster mom at sixty which has changed her life. We started a new tradition with this baby. This year we're going to [South] Africa so I like that it's ever-changing. This is my third trip. We did the first film festival that actually took place in the townships. I got to go there for a week. Then last year I did the Cairo film festival and saw the Nubian culture. It was awe-inspiring. We are so warmly embraced when we travel.

TeenHollywood: Do you think you'll ever direct?

Gabrielle: I don't have a passion for directing. I have a passion for finding great writers. Working with Queen, I know the power is in producing.

TeenHollywood: Talk about your next project with Eddie Murphy.

Gabrielle: Starship Dave. It comes out end of May. I got to see it. It's hard to tell when you do it with green screens. You don't know what it's going to look like but I was like 'wow, that's cool'. It's like the feeling I had when I first saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the first one when I was little. Like 'how did they do that?' It's this fantasy/sci fi. Me and Eddie and our crew are two-inch-tall Martians that crash-land on Earth looking for this orb that our planet needs to survive. We make this ship in the likeness of our captain Eddie. So, there is big Eddie who is really a ship and we're inside manning all the parts.

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