Brandon T. Jackson is One "Big Momma"!

Cute 20-something Brandon played Alpa Chino in the hilarious comedy Tropic Thunder and this week you can catch the comic actor walking/wobbling in heels alongside Martin Lawrence in the funny Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son.

When Brandon’s character witnesses a murder, he has to go undercover along with his dad to find badly needed evidence that is hidden in an all girls’ school! So, handsome rapper Trent becomes “big-boned” Charmaine.

We’re near the campus of UCLA to chat with Brandon about comedy, rap and being in drag!

TeenHollywood: By playing a woman, did you learn anything about them?

Brandon: [laughs] It was more [learning] respect. I can’t believe that you guys have got to put on so much in the morning. What time do ya’ll wake up? Man, I put a t-shirt and jeans on and that’s it.  To see what you guys have got to go through in the morning, it’s more of a respect factor. I’ve learned that it takes a lot to be a woman. I guess women have a lot to go through to present [themselves].

TeenHollywood: Will you be a better boyfriend after this?

Brandon: Yeah, but I don’t have time to date these days.

TeenHollywood: Focused on your career?

Brandon: I guess so. What I find is I can’t use the same tricks I use in the movies. You can’t do that in real life.

TeenHollywood: When you first put on the dress and wig and make-up, what did you think?

Brandon: I was like ‘Whoa! She’s pretty!’ It was a good time. I’m happy I got to create this character. As an actor, it’s amazing to get to create different characters. Like Johnny Depp is a character actor and everything you see him in is different so I’m happy that David [Friendly, producer] gave me the chance to create a different character.

TeenHollywood: How hard was it for you to wear the make-up, body suit and heels all day?

Brandon: The heels broke!  Remember we was runnin’ doin’ the action thing and I’m in the half girl/guy suit thing at this point. I’m running and the heel breaks and John’s [Whitesell, director] like ‘Just go with it’.

TeenHollywood: That happens. How long did it take you to get used to the fact that you would have to sit there a couple of hours every morning to get made up?

Brandon: It wasn’t cool at all. I didn’t know that it took that long and they constantly had to tell me to chill out and sit down.

TeenHollywood: Did you listen to music? Did you bring an i-Pod with you?

Brandon: We had hip hop playin’ in the trailer just to keep you awake. I didn’t want to start watchin’ movies because I have a problem with mimicking. I was that kid that would watch the movies and do the same thing.

TeenHollywood: What advice did Martin give you and did you take it?

Brandon: Yes, I did take it. The whole crew [gave me advice] but he was tellin’ me to chill out. You do the work and be professional. Stay calm before the camera rolls. This takes a lot of energy out of you and you don’t realize it until after the fact that you’re so tired. I got off this movie and I was burned out. ‘Why am I so tired?’ But, when you’re just goin’, goin’, goin’, Martin was trying to make that point. ‘Do your work and go sit down’.

TeenHollywood: When you were a teen, did you have a Big Momma in your life? The good advice person?

Brandon: Yeah, my grandmother. Everyone has a Big Momma but she wasn’t big. My grandma is actually very skinny. Our family is pretty skinny traditionally. But she gave great advice. My grandma is kind of a rock star. She goes to France. My grandpa was in both of the wars and could speak different languages.  

TeenHollywood: Isn’t your dad a pastor at your church? What did he think of you dressed up as a female when he visited the set?

Brandon: I’m like ‘Hey, dad. What’s up’?  I want to have fun and my dad, deep down inside, is a fun guy. Like any normal father, he wants the best for his kids.

TeenHollywood: Martin has been playing Big Momma for a while. What did you pick up from Martin that maybe you used for Charmaine?

Brandon: I watched how he kind of embodied the character. He could embody it fully but then would go in and out when it was time to become the guy.  That’s the funny thing about Big Momma is when Martin comes out and shows that he’s the guy. Then, he’s beaten up as Big Momma. There’s a lot of elements that makes it hilarious.

TeenHollywood: So with pretty Jessica Lucas as your love interest, was it easy to play “Charmaine” having to hold in his/her male interest in this pretty coed?

Brandon: Jessica’s a very beautiful woman. I think I was in love. She’s dope!

TeenHollywood: When you first got the script and knew you were going to have a love interest, did that please you?

Brandon:  This movie has many elements; the father/son story, the love story. The love story was great for me because I never thought I’d get one. Goofy guys usually don’t get one. I auditioned as Charmaine with Jessica to check the chemistry.

TeenHollywood: You get to rap quite a bit in this as the male character Trevor and as Charmaine. You were a D.J. and host in radio stations when you were very young then went out on the road at concerts and introduced acts, but is rapping and performing music new for you?

Brandon: It’s an undiscovered talent. David [Friendly, the producer] and Ben Stiller taught me how to rap. They wrote it in the scripts as producers. I’m not a natural comedian as an artist. I studied comedy growing up. I would watch Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence all day. Now, it’s funny because the rap element is such a thing in our culture, it’s so relevant that it was like ‘Let’s make it happen’. So, they taught me how to rap.

TeenHollywood: And you were good.

Brandon: Thank you! I appreciate it. They taught me how to do it. Now I’m doing it, kind of. I did a viral video with T. Pain. [called “Do It Big”]

TeenHollywood: Do you want to do more rap now?

Brandon: It’s fun rappin’ as the guy but I’ve never seen somebody rap as a guy and a girl. It’s in the video. That’s what’s so attractive. There’s so many layers in this movie that it’s a performance piece. You’re rapping as a guy playing a girl. It’s a blessing that they allowed me to do something like that. The problem is, you give it to me, I’m gonna go with it, so when I’m inspired to do it, I’m still taking it one step at a time.

TeenHollywood: Do you have a favorite rapper?

Brandon: Kanye West and Lil Wayne I think are the dopest. They speak for our generation to be honest. I think they really speak for what’s goin’ on right now.

TeenHollywood: You did okay singing in the film as well.

Brandon: I can sing too but I can’t beat out Trey Songz. I really have a love for comedy. I can’t express it enough.

TeenHollywood: In Percy Jackson and the Olympians you were half horse and half man. Now you’re a man playing a woman.  What’s with that?

Brandon: It’s all characters, man. The cool thing about it was I got to play a Demigod and a Satyr in one movie and got to play a girl and a guy and a rapper and a rapper who was in the middle of a war [Tropic Thunder] with actors. I’ve had a blessed career.

TeenHollywood: Did you have time to have any fun in Atlanta off set?

Brandon: I had a little fun. I went out a little bit. I did stand-up. I’m really focused on that. There’s no comedians out there, young comedians. Kids think Soulja Boy is funny. He’s not funny. I’m really a purist when it comes to Pryor and Eddie Murphy. These guys are geniuses.

TeenHollywood: Are you planning a comedy tour then?

Brandon: Yeah. I don’t know what it’s called yet but I am. I’m goin’. I’m getting my material together right now.

TeenHollywood: Who is writing the material?

Brandon: Me. I’m lookin’ at some dope people. Gotta get these guys goin’.

TeenHollywood: Would you love to have an HBO or Showtime special?

Brandon: Yes, that would be amazing. I’m not supposed to say this yet but I’m working towards it. I do feel that whatever happens now, working with great people, you’ve got to do something great. That’s how I feel.

TeenHollywood: When did you know you were funny?

Brandon: I’ve always been funny. I look back in the day when I would take the mic from my dad in church. My mom told me this.  I would take the mic from my dad in church and just start goin’ at like age six the first time. I did it and fourteen when I knew I wanted to promote my own comedy shows at the church then everyone would come.

TeenHollywood: Who do you look up to in writing funny movies?

Brandon: You know who is dope? Jonah Hill, man. I just love how they know what’s going on in our generation and the guy that wrote the Facebook movie, The Social Network. [Aaron Sorkin] is very, very talented. That monologue in the beginning of the movie is crazy.

TeenHollywood: What actress would you just die if you got to work with?

Brandon: Honestly who is dope to me, I’ve got so many. Betty White is dope. I want to work with Meryl Streep. I really want to do a comedy with Meryl Streep. That would be such an odd couple. Is Halie Berry my generation? Natalie Portman is dope. I’d love to work with her. Scarlett Johansson is dope. Portia [Doubleday who plays Jasmine in the film] is hilarious.