Posted June 18, 2008

Bossip had the pleasure of speaking with Elise Neal recently. Although we have grown familiar with her "sqeaky clean" image, Elise lets us know that there's more to her than meets the eye. She discusses, getting knifed up, her "relationship" with 50 Cent and how the Pussycat Dolls did her dirty.

So what’s it like for you being a Black Actor in Hollyweird today?
My experience in general being in Hollywood is always a little surreal for me and everyday I still try to get over the fact that I still don’t always feel like an actor. And it’s a good thing and a bad thing in some of the choices I’ve made in my career. I didn’t expect to be a TV movie star. It wasn’t my goal growing up. I wanted to be a theater performer on Broadway – and open a dance school. That was the goal.

Do you think that Hip Hop artists and pop singers are robbing top roles from working African American actors such as yourself?
See, it’s not them. I can’t blame them for the way leads are picked. It’s not their fault that the head of New Line cinema calls and offers them a lead part. What are they going to do – not take it? It’s the studio systems fault, and society's fault. It has nothing to do with the artists themselves. It’s just the way it is now. Everything is about celebrity; it’s not about a talent.

Are you still set to play Karrine Steffans in her biopic?
That’s all dead now. It wasn’t’ something I was set to play. I’d spoken to Karrine about creating her life story. I would’ve liked her to taken the reigns of this idea. Yeah there’s a lot of sex to her story but the interesting and sad thing is that everything she went through – being homeless, being beaten, being on drugs, and getting that low and pulling herself out of it. I think it was something I wanted to see on a film. It wasn’t going to be like “let’s see her technique” it was going to be about her journey. It could’ve been a great story with the right directory and screenwriter; I just don’t think she took the reigns of it like she could have. That was what I was interested in playing. I don’t know if she’s still trying – but I haven’t talked to her about it.

What projects are you currently working on?
I have a big movie opening up in 2009 called “Love Ranch” with Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci. It’s a true story about the Mustang Ranch, which was the first legal brothel in the United States. It’s all very interesting, and based in the 70’s. It’s definitely something different. I play one of the girls who works in the brothel. (laughs) It’s very different [for me]. It’s not just a film about sex – it has a lot of layers.

Most of your fans wouldn’t expect you to do a film like that [that’s just about sex]
Here’s the thing. Especially for African American actors it’s not about what you take, it’s about what they put in front of you. People need to remind themselves that people are playing roles – I am a lot more fun than people would expect from the straight laced, arranging flowers, types of characters that I’ve played. I’m a lot sillier than that. Which is why I enjoyed embodying this character because she’s more free and crazy and out there so I get to be a little more of myself in role.

So you are saying that the other roles you’ve don’t really reflect who you are – that you’re more wild and sexual?
I don’t really play who I am - I’ve danced in music videos – worn sexy clothes. And when I made the decision to go into acting, a lot of people rolled their eyes and said ”girl you dance, you can’t just switch up like that.” I decided to play nice women. I didn’t go for the sexier roles. I wanted to prove to myself that I could take on any . So I had a lot of fun. To be able to throw on an Afro wig – and be sassy it was a blast.

Well we’ll definitely be looking out for this one next year!
Yeah –You’ve never seen me like this before! (laughs)

Getting knifed is the norm in Hollywood, for men and women alike. What are your thoughts on plastic surgery?
Being a person who’s had plastic surgery I think it’s personal choice. A lot of people make me laugh about the plastic surgery situation because I hate to say it but most African American females in entertainment have had some type of plastic surgery. Maybe it’s not breast enhancement but I'd say at least 75% of them have had their noses done and they cannot tell me that they haven’t. I’m sorry.

Time to drop some names.
I’m not going to say (laughs) but I would give it 75% though because they are trying to fit into a [certain] mold. But I did my breast enhancement for me. But it didn’t have to do anything with acting. It had to do with being a performer. They were always hiring the girls who were more voluptuous.

I’ll be honest; I was insecure back from when I first started dancing. I felt like I always had to stuff (my costumes) to fit in and be in a chorus line with women who already had breast enhancement or who were naturally endowed. I wanted to be able to wear my [dance costumes] without someone telling me to stuff it. I’m not ashamed of it. People need to just own up to it.

Are you currently on the dating scene – or are you off the market?
I’m still on the market – still dating. I’m looking for a special person. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a serious relationship. I’ve definitely been in pseudo relationships, but now I’m ready for a real one.

What about you and 50 Cent?
What about it?

Was it serious?
I never talk about that – because honestly I feel that so many people talk about instances where they’ve been with somebody who is famous for the wrong reason. And [50] would be the first person to say that it’s very true about me. I would go left to not be that person that either he or the world would assume that of. I didn’t hang out with him because I thought –“hmm that would get me somewhere.” I’m not that chick.

What drew you to ole Bugsy?
I really enjoyed hanging out with him. We knew each other for quite a while and nobody knew it. I liked telling jokes with him and being silly with him and I like Cancer men, and he’s a Cancer – so it was a basic attraction. It had nothing to do with the fact that he is Curtis Jackson and I’m Elise Neal.

Why didn’t it work out between you two?
We weren’t even boyfriend and girlfriend. I guess I’m a different type of woman. If I didn’t say I’m trying to take this thing further with you and a man doesn’t say I’m trying to take this thing further with you, then I don’t assume [anything]. I stick to what’ve decided. I’m not the kind of person who thinks it’s going to go somewhere because we’ve been hanging out for a year. I’m not like that. I’m like a guy that way. I think things should be discussed and decided on. I enjoyed hanging out with him, and I think he enjoyed hanging out with me (but you’ll have to ask him that). I didn’t expect it to be a “white picket fence” I’m not delusional.

Tell our readers a little about your R&B group Assorted Flavors
I’m so proud of them. I come from a performance background, and that’s my 1st passion. I think I’m better at that than I am an actor. I missed performing so I put this group together – to fill this void I’ve been missing.

I want to reveal something that sounds like “hate” but it’s really the truth. In 2005, when I first decided to put a group together, I went out to find the creator of the Pussycat Dolls because it was kind of in the realm of what I wanted to do. At that time we had the same representation (MSA) that worked with Robin Anton. The Dolls were working on a rock album – they were still trying to find a voice.

I invited some of the Dolls to one of our first performances where we performed "Don't Cha." And to make a long story short, We [Assorted Flavors] performed it in February 2005 and they came out with the song in April or May 2005. They rushed and got their version out before we had a chance to do anything about it.

Damn. So the Pussycat Dolls success came from an idea they stole from you?
Yes. I created and choreographed the show. The whole concept was my idea. And they totally took the idea and ran with it and are now mega stars. And I have proof – I had to get that off my chest.

That’s pretty jacked up. How did you handle that situation?
If we were already as established as we are now I would’ve approached it “differently”– it was a whole new experience for me, but you live and you learn. [Assorted Flavors] is doing really well now. We’ve been performing all over the place. We’ll probably be at R&B Live in July. It’s been really fun for me.