Jada On A High

Actress JADA PINKETT SMITH, 45, represents class and Hollywood cool. We catch up with the beauty about her new film.

- Sisonke Labase

She started her career in the early 90s with various roles in movies and sitcoms, but what cemented her renown as a Hollywood starlet was starring in the groundbreaking crime action movie, Set it Off, in 1996. Jada has since carved out her own path in the industry, going on to act in films like The Nutty Professor and The Matrix: Reloaded. Jada currently stars in season 3 of the TV crime series, Gotham.

The epitome of class meets cool, Jada wears many hats. Not only is she an actress, she’s also a businesswoman, producer, singer, mother and wife. Her latest movie, Girls Trip, is a comedy about four lifelong friends, in which she co-stars alongside Regina Hall, Queen Latifah and Tiffany Haddish. The quartet travel to New Orleans to attend the annual Essence Music Festival. Like a typical girlfriends’ getaway, it’s filled with crazy fun, sisterhood and drama.

TRUE LOVE was lucky enough to secure an exclusive telephonic interview with the gorgeous actress to chat about the movie. When asked how filming went, she says: “The outlandish comedic feel was awesome and I wish people have as much fun watching it. It was so exciting to film it – it was like a girls’ trip on its own.”

Jada has portrayed so many different characters that she can’t be typecast. Her choice of roles depends on whether she can connect with the character: “It really just has to speak with me in some way. I was drawn to the role of Lisa because the film’s about friendship – and women giving themselves the licence to cut loose.”