I RELATED SO MUCH TO SMURFETTE

STARS RIHANNA, NICK OFFERMAN AND JAMES CORDEN TALK TO LYNN RUSK ABOUT CREATING MUSIC AND TACKLING EVIL WIZARDS IN THE NEW SMURFS MOVIE

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MUSICIAN, actress, makeup mogul and soon-to-be mother of three, Rihanna is one busy woman.

Now the 37-year-old Barbadian is set to thrill her legions of fans as she leads the cast of the latest Smurfs movie.

The Umbrella singer not only voices the film's lead character, Smurfette but also serves as a producer and contributes an original song to the soundtrack, Friend Of Mine, her first new music in three years.

“Working on this film in so many different roles was every bit as thrilling as it was challenging,” says the star. “It was invigorating and exciting for me to not only embody a character but also bring my musical life into the mix.

“We worked with music producers and choreographers whose work I admire. To put those two worlds together was a win-win for everyone, it pushed us all to challenge our artistry.”

Directed by American animator Chris Miller, best known for Puss In Boots, Smurfs follows Smurfette as she leads the Smurfs on a daring mission into the real world to rescue Papa Smurf, voiced by John Goodman, from the clutches of a pair of evil wizards.

A lifelong Smurfs fan, Rihanna recalls growing up in Barbados with limited television options for kids.

“So many mornings, I woke up long before I was supposed to get ready for school just to get that dose of The Smurfs,’ she remembers.

“I related so much to Smurfette and what she stood for. First of all, I’ve always loved makeup and hair - we all know that - and she’s an aesthetician.

“She’s also a powerful leader: independent, strong, beautiful, sassy, witty, and very empathetic. I was super inspired by all of that. I think she loves music too, and her favourite genres are hip-hop, reggae, Afrobeats, ballads, and house. That's Smurfette. She needs options.”