Nothing Common About Common

2008-06-27
By Miki Turner

LOS ANGELES—It’s hard not to get caught up when Common starts talking about his passion for acting and music; or when he mentions other celebrities and proves that he’s just as star-struck as anyone else.

During an exclusive interview with Ebonyjet.com in his suite at the Four Seasons, the Grammy-winning Chicago native, who has a new CD dropping in August and is currently shooting his fifth film, “Terminator 4,” talked about playing a gunsmith in his new film, “Wanted,” a thriller starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman; dying young on screen; those rumors linking him with Serena Williams and the night Barack Obama became the presumptive nominee.

Ebonyjet.com: You get an opportunity to do these action flicks and shoot up everybody, but more often than not, you get taken out, too. Are you tired of getting whacked?
Common: (laughs) You know, you definitely want to be the black man who lives. Fortunately in my first two movies, I lived. In these last two I got taken out. But it’s still good to be a part of it, you’ve got to go with the story.

EJ: Your character [in “Wanted”] is the strong, silent type. Why did you choose a role with so little dialogue?
C: I am a new actor so I know I have to take things in steps. And I feel like I read the script and the script was already something fresh and new and that’s what I want to be a part of—things that are groundbreaking, things that feel new and feel like they can become something that is classic. I didn’t have a lot of lines, but you’ve got to be able to do the best with the role that you’re given and really just be present regardless, and bring what you can to that role. Sometimes, you gotta be humble enough to take on a certain role and know that you will have opportunities to be leads in movies if you keep taking these steps.

EJ: What was the coolest thing about shooting in your hometown?
C: I think the coolest thing was just being able to go up to Angelina and say, ‘You need me to show you around?’ And having people from Chicago go, ‘Common, we’re proud of you man.’ It felt good to know that I was in a movie at home. It was a blessing. I was overwhelmed in some ways. But it was tough, too, because you want to stay in character but there are more people approaching you about your music.

EJ: Are you harder on yourself as an actor or a musician?
C: I think definitely my acting. Like the music, I know I’ve been doing it for a long time and I got a crew of people who listen to my music with me. If I need to rewrite something, I’ll rewrite. With acting, I’m analyzing every aspect, which is important and it’s good because I know I have a long way to go to become the great actor I want to be.

EJ: Why do you think some rappers make good actors? You know everyone hasn’t been called!
C: (laughs) I think the truth of the matter is what you just said. Its got to be something that you really are able to do and sent to do and can do. It doesn’t matter what your background is. If you used to be a janitor and for some reason God tapped you on the shoulder and said 'this is a profession I’ve got for you' and you work at it, then you’re going to be able to do that. I like Mos Def, man. He’s doing it.

EJ: You mentioned before that Morgan Freeman had given you some advice that you didn’t want to share. Have you solicited advice from other veteran actors you’ve worked with?
C: I definitely love that. That’s like a gesture of love right there. To learn from a master -- I couldn’t ask for anything more. Denzel (Washington) did the same thing (in “American Gangster).” He gave me some words, some things to do. You gotta pick up the information, you’ve got to be open and humble and know. I was honored that Morgan Freeman took time out to do that.

EJ: Do you drop wisdom on the younger artists coming up in the hip hop game?
C: Definitely. I tell them things like stick to what you believe in and don’t be afraid to be creative. The way you keep going is to keep gathering information. You’ve got to keep getting information.

EJ: Now, I’m going to have to ask you this because the sister that you’ve been romantically linked with is on the cover of Ebony magazine this month. Are there any truths to the rumors about you and Serena Williams?
C: (smiles) By the way I think that’s a great cover. But I will say that right now my relationship is with my music. That’s the big relationship that I’m in.

EJ: But is there something going on between you and Serena?
C: I think she’s a very good tennis player. I love watching her play. I think Venus is very good, too (laughter).

EJ: Do you resent the intrusions into your personal life?
C: No, you know. When you decide to become an artist you have no idea what is going to happen but you have to expect that certain things are going to come with it. For me I’ve been blessed to have a career where it’s been a constant climb. I’ve gotten to see at each level what it feels like and I’m still climbing. If I hated [the intrusions] that much, I could step out and decide to be a real estate broker or something. But I love being an artist and I love working on films. All the things that come with it, you just have to deal with it.

EJ: You know a lot of women swoon when you come into the room…
C: (laughs) That’s something!

EJ: But what kind of woman turns you on?
C: Um, I like a woman who is strong and independent.  A woman that is also soft—that can be a woman. But by the same token has an inner-strength. I like a spiritual woman -— and a woman who likes to have fun.

EJ: Do you know when you’ve hit it—either in your music or your acting? Do people have to tell you when you’re good?
C: Now that’s a good question. People don’t have to tell me. I know when it’s right, I know when it’s wrong. I do know when I hit it.

EJ: Do you remember where you were on the night Barack Obama, a former member of the church you belong to, became the presumptive Democratic nominee for President?
C: I was at an appointment and my boy sent me a text. Then I went home and officially saw it on TV. I was like man, that’s incredible. My boy said, ‘I never thought in my lifetime we would see a black President.’ We will see it. It’s something man. It seemed so far away and now it’s so close. People are starting to say we’re tired of the BS. We want something better for our country, for the world.  To see that is the brightest thing going on in 2008.

Miki Turner is an award-winning writer and producer who can be reached at oaktown89@aol.com or at www.dadevodiva.blogspot.com