Derek and Keshia "Go to Jail"

She is best known as adorable little "Rudy" from the old "Cosby" show on TV and in endless re-runs. Well, she's all grown up now and co-stars in the TV series "House of Payne". His acting blew critics and audiences away in the dramatic film Antwone Fisher. Then came Biker Boyz, Friday Night Lights and Notorious. Now Keshia Knight Pulliam and Derek Luke co-star in Tyler Perry's new dramady Madea Goes to Jail. She's a sad, street-savvy ho and he's the bright young lawyer and childhood friend trying to save her.

We all know that Tyler Perry's character Madea is a laugh riot but his films always have a dramatic core as well and it's that side of the film that these two young actors portray. We sat down with the duo in Beverly Hills to talk about what it's like to work in a Tyler Perry film where it isn't unusual to see the director/actor/producer giving instructions on set dressed as the busty, boisterous Madea! Picture cute Derek in cool black leather jacket, dark brown tee and jeans. Keshia is adorable in short denim mini-dress by Theory with low v-neck, accessorized with a big gold hoop necklace and red patent leather heels.

TeenHollywood: How did you work with Tyler as both director and playing Madea? Was that just weird?

Keshia: I'd worked with Tyler on (the TV show) "House of Payne" but I'd never met Madea. I just knew Tyler the writer, director, the producer etc., the man who runs the show. So, I came around the corner, we were doing the jail scene, I heard Tyler talking (as director) setting the shot up. So, I came 'round the corner and he was Madea and I was like "Ahhh (screams)!' I'm sorry'. But it was a shock and it was hilarious. He just caught me off guard. I was trying to not get poked in the eye (by Madea's fake boobs).

TeenHollywood: Derek, how was this experience joining the Tyler Perry machine, this being your first film with him?

Derek: I was in awe. I told Tyler, when I first met him, I had an article cut out from 'Variety' and I'd had it on my desk as inspiration because I felt like he had transcended all the impossibilities and I loved the fact that it was all faith-based. It was amazing to go down there (to Atlanta). I was there, I was cool but when I got home I was like 'Yaaaa! Y'all got to see this. This is crazy!' Because it was the same thing I want to bring back to where I'm from. I want to bring that to Jersey. I want to bring it back to the kids.

TeenHollywood: You mean Tyler's ability to make his dreams come true?

Derek: Yeah. When you dream big and you manifest [your dreams] you effect not just you but everybody around you. So, it was powerful. It's still having an impact. I heard an interview with Tyler comparing him to Disney or something and he said 'I ain't the Black Disney nothin'' and it's true. He's his own individual and I'm still impressed. It doesn't matter what circle I've been in, the Jerry Bruckheimers or whatever, his name pops up. How do you make that happen? A man that just came from God, Godsent? I think it's powerful and impressive and inspirational.

TeenHollywood: Keshia, a lot of people still think of you as cute little Rudy from "The Cosby Show" so what was it like for you to play a down and out girl on the streets? It's a real change for you.

Keshia: This was the biggest stretch, the hardest I've had to work at a character in a role and that's really why I took it, because I wanted that challenge. Honestly, at the end of the day, she's like every one of us. It's about choices. She chose from door A or door B and, sometimes, when you choose door B, it will take you down a life-altering path but I think the story behind her is that we all have choices and sometimes, we make bad ones and no matter how bad or destitute we think the situation is, there's always a way back.

TeenHollywood: Did you do any research?

Keshia: Yes, I did talk to some people who had issues with drug abuse; heroin and were led down the road to prostitution; hangin' out with Ho's [laughter] but ultimately Tyler really did help me a lot along the way to connect real life experiences where you may have felt that pain; connect it to an experience that you personally did have. I think everybody can identify with the feelings, whether they had it in that specific [way] or not.

TeenHollywood: Derek, what do you identify with in your lawyer character Joshua and where did you go in yourself for some of your intense scenes? There's one where you break down and cry.

Derek: I think I related to Josh in many different ways because I feel like I'm serving the people that serve me. I felt like Josh was in there to help to serve. I feel like there are a lot of men that are holding onto things they've done in the past and I felt, with Viola [Davis] character, that she was so strong in who she was [a recovered prostitute, now minister] he was looking for that moment to confess. Kind of like I did many times in my own life. I always try to find something real to put on screen because there's just too much art on screen with no heart. You've got to make sure that, when you are being artistic, that you owe people real emotions. You owe them a real experience. Many times, you don't want to do that and that scene was kind of interesting because Tyler was in the van and it was hot and he was directing and he got out and talked me through it and these emotions came out.

TeenHollywood: Keshia, what was the most difficult scene for you to do in the film and did Tyler help you get through it or was he mean to you as he admits he sometimes is with actors to get a good performance?

Keshia: The most difficult scene for me was the pimp scene in the hotel [Keshia's character is grabbed and kept prisoner by a pimp who wants her to work for him] and even when I watch it, it makes the hair on my arms stand up and yeah, I got some mean words from Tyler but I said 'Thank You' because I needed that to be there. You have to be so true and honest to that emotion. The camera sees it. It's more critical than the naked eye and just completely going there, was difficult but, in the end, it came out very well. Tyler will call you on it [it you're not being honest in a role] but it's about the integrity of the project and making it happen so I appreciate that. I want him to be like, 'No! You need to step your game up' and I will rise to the challenge.

TeenHollywood: What do you feel you've learned by playing this role?

Keshia: I've learned what I can do. I think, more than anything, I took a risk and I've learned that you have to step out of the box and you have to go there with it. You can't do things out of fear. You just have to completely go there and trust your instincts.

TeenHollywood: Derek, what's next for you?

Derek: We're headed to Berlin to the Berlin Film Festival with Notorious so I'm pretty excited about that. There's a lot of offers that came to me through Notorious [the film about rapper Notorious B.I.G] and I'm just deciding on them and training my body, just getting ready.

TeenHollywood: Keshia, what's next for you?

Keshia: I've started a production company so we have a couple of projects that we're working on for me to act in and produce. And I think "House of Payne" starts back up in June.