Girls gone wild s gon
Queen Latifah & Jada Pinkett Smith Pals since their teens, the ‘Girls Trip’ co-stars dish about their rise to fame and their lasting friendship
Like any pair of tried-and-true girlfriends, Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah can communicate with a look, a laugh or just a few words. “Jada and I can have whole conversations where we haven’t really said anything, but we’ve said a lot,” says Queen Latifah, 47, of the pal she first met when they were both ambitious teenagers. They last shared the big screen in 1996’s Set It Off (“We were babies!” says Pinkett Smith), and when they first got the script for the raunchy comedy Girls Trip, about a group of friends reconnecting at Essence Festival in New Orleans (in cinemas on Aug. 31), they made the decision to sign on together. Says Pinkett Smith, 45: “I haven’t seen women of colour portrayed like this in a long time, but it has universal themes. La and I were like, ‘We’re in!’ ”
It’s been 21 years since you two acted together. What’s been the biggest change? Pinkett Smith Shoot, everything—literally. Latifah We were young ’uns. I didn’t even have my woman body yet. She got knocked up shortly after that. Pinkett Smith I got married [to Will Smith] and had two kids. My life went in a whole other direction. A lot of ups and downs, but yet here we are. Speaking of Will—you both had stints on The Fresh Prince of Bel-air. Latifah Will gave me my
first job on TV. I was like, “What the f--k do I do?” Director Ellen Falcone pretty much taught me how to act. Will and Jada have been there my entire career. Pinkett Smith I remember the first time I met her. It was in Baltimore at a club where she was performing. I’d never seen anyone like her before, this female rapper named Queen Latifah. I convinced the promoter to let me introduce her.
Latifah My mother was with me—that’s how young I was, about 17. You were younger.
Pinkett Smith I had no business being in the club! Have you two ever taken a girls’ trip? Latifah We are super-overdue for that! She invites me to a lot of girls’ peace [ get-togethers], like, “La, come to the spa, chill out, find your Zen.” I’m ready to drag her out of the house. Pinkett Smith I’m ready to be dragged out of the house! Did making this movie feel authentic to female relationships like yours?
Pinkett Smith It’s starring four black women and is telling our stories from our perspective, but it’s accessible to everyone. Hollywood is coming a long way—but so are audiences. Latifah I just love listening to Jada when she starts eloquent-ising on a situation. Pinkett Smith [ Laughs] Sometimes I get heady and deep, and La is always there to bring the joy.