By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com

Talk about a comeback story!

Naturi Naughton had an unceremonious departure from her platinum-selling pop trio 3LW back in 2002.

After months of infighting with her group members, Kiely Williams and Adrienne Bailon, things apparently came to a head after Naughton accused Williams of throwing a hot plate of KFC food at her.

3LW initially replaced Naughton with a singer named Jessica Benson, but after several failed singles, Williams and Bailon starred in Disney's 'The Cheetah Girls' and began touring and performing with the film's co-stars.

Naughton on the other hand landed a role on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning musical 'Hairspray.'

The 24-year-old singer honed her skills as an actress on the Great White Way for three years before landing her first feature film role as Lil' Kim in the film 'Notorious.'

The East Orange, New Jersey-bred singer, who will star in the upcoming film adaptation of the 1980's TV show 'Fame,' is impressive as the late Notorious B.I.G.'s mistress/protégé.

I caught up with Naughton in New York City and we spoke about her work on the film, the drama surrounding Lil' Kim's involvement and her future beyond 'Notorious.'

You really show a lot of flesh in this film. Was it hard shooting those intense nude scenes?

It was hard and not just because of the physical, but just putting so much into this role that was so different than my actual personality. Lil' Kim and the things that she's done is not really who I am, but it was such a great challenge because I wanted to show people that I'm an actress and if I'm gonna be Lil' Kim, I'm gonna be Lil' Kim. The relationship that she had with B.I.G. was that raw. It wasn't sugar coated or watered down and I didn't want to do a TV fake version. I really wanted to give people the truth.

But you had to deliver this performance without the benefit Lil' Kim's input?

I didn't get a chance to spend any time with her, but my research just basically entailed me reading a lot about her back story, what she went through as a young person and her growing up in Brooklyn. I went to Brooklyn and spent a lot of time there. I hung out and talked to the guys of Junior M.A.F.I.A. a little bit and they all coached me and told me 'that's exactly how Kim was.' We would spend a lot of time and they would teach me things that would be more like Kim or BIG and Kim's relationship. I listened to her first album; I watched her in videos and worked with Tanisha Scott on the movements for the performance scene. I have to give credit to everybody because I had so much material to work with to be able to pull it off.

How hard is it playing a person that's still alive? Is that a lot of pressure?

I think it's challenging because you have a fan base that's looking for what they have fell in love with. We're not creating replicas and we're not trying to mimic exactly what it looks like. I'm not a reincarnation of Lil' Kim. I'm just portraying who she was and the essence of her. The soul of the character was more important than the physical and what people saw. I think it's important to see that this girl was in love, she was vulnerable and that she had been through a lot in her home and her personal relationship. It was so important to show that Lil' Kim wasn't just an artist and a character. She was a human being and she was a woman. She was hurt and wanted to be loved and be with the man that she loved.

I heard that Lil' Kim didn't want you to play her because she felt your skin complexion was too dark. Additionally, I'm told she requested an Asian actress. Is that true?

I don't really know if it was an Asian actress that Lil' Kim wanted. I haven't talked to her unfortunately. I haven't had that chemistry or that support, but my thing is I knew that I got this role because I worked for it and not because I'm Hollywood or someone gave it to me or even that I look exactly like her. It was the acting and the performance of the rapping. I worked really hard on transitioning from being a singer all my life to turning into a hip-hop rap artist and that wasn't easy. I don't know what she wanted from it. I never talked to her so I can't validate that, but all I can say is that I hope when she sees it; she sees that I tired my best to bring her to justice.

But if you would have had your way, would you have communicated with Lil' Kim?

I tried to get together with her, but it just never happened.

When Lil' Kim sees this movie, what do you want her to take away from you performance of her?

I think it's so important to remember where you came from. Everything about this is taking us back to that period in the 90's and listening to music where people could tell their life story like Biggie could in one song. Kim has done that so much in her rhymes and just being so free and saying whatever was on her mind. Even though you grow as an artist and you change and get bigger, it's so important to remember how it all started and that somebody believed in you and said, 'you're beautiful, you're talented, you're sexy.' Somebody gave you that encouragement and we need to remember to do that back to the other upcoming young people that are coming after us. When we get to that point I can remember that I was that girl who was just trying to get her foot in the door. Don't ever forget that and that is what you should take from this movie. Remember that you were there and help everybody out along the way.

You were recording a solo album with Full Force. Are you still working with them?

I'm not working with Full Force anymore, but we're still good friends. I'm just focusing on my acting career right now.

You're an inspiration to anyone looking for a second chance in the entertainment business. Talk about overcoming adversity and bouncing back.

I think my career has been what so many people go through. The journey itself shows that no matter what trials and tribulations or what hurdles you have to jump over, just jump over them and get through it. That's my motto. In my life I have to give glory to God because if it weren't for him giving me the strength, I would not be here. There were so many times I wanted to give up. I would hear people say, 'Oh she ain't gonna do nothing after the group.' It was so many people saying that I couldn't be where I am today and that story speaks to every young person and every individual that says 'I want to do this' and people say 'no you can't.' Yes you can. Look at us, we have a Black President of the United States of America and we're making history. To me, just holding on to that dream which is what this movie is about is what I did and other people can do it too.

*****

'Notorious' debuted at number four at the box office, earning an extraordinary $21.5 million in its opening weekend.

The film also stars Jamal Woolard, Derek Luke, Angela Bassett, Anthony Mackie and Antonique Smith.