ASHANTI: In new teen comedy

Grammy Award Winner Ashanti plays it mean and even as Heather in the upcoming teen comedy "John Tucker Must Die" which also stars Jesse Metcalfe in the title role.

"John Tucker Must Die" revolves around three girls from different social groups who band together to seek revenge on the school's most popular guy who has broken their hearts. They set him up to fall for the new girl in town, just so she can dump him and break his heart.

Q:What was it about doing "John Tucker" that appealed to you?

A:It was a totally different character for me. I had just come off "Coach Carter" and I wanted to show that I was diverse. It was a different demographic. It was younger, more lighthearted.

Q:Have you ever taken out revenge on an ex-boyfriend?

A:Yes, but not as good as these girls. I wish that I would have done it a little better.

Q:Is it hard for you to find guys who look past that aspect of you and see you for who you are?

A:What I look for is just sincerity. Humor is a must for me. You got to be able to make me laugh. This world is so filled with smoke and mirrors. I'm a very down to earth type of person so I appreciate sincerity.

Q:Has music taken a back seat now to your acting?

A:Well, I think it's time. I've been out since 2002, dropping albums. I wanted to do something different.

Q:How do you see your discipline paying off for you now?

A:I think my motto is to always remain focused on what it is that you're trying to accomplish. The challenge is definitely what is the catalyst to the growth as a person and as an entertainer. I think it's so important to always try and do something different and new.

Q:How do you keep balance in your life?

A:One thing that JaRule told me very, very early in my career was never let this become a job. Never let it become a nine to five, because you might as well just be doing a nine to five. So it's so important to try and have fun and get those life experiences in while you're doing so much work. As an artist it's 24/7, even when you are on a vacation, it's very important to remember that you're doing this because you love it and because it's a passion.

ASHANTI has been one of the most popular talents on the music scene since she struck gold with her 2002 debut album, "Ashanti." It topped Billboard's Top 200 and R&B album charts, and sold a whopping 504,593 units in its first week of release. This figure set a record on SoundScan for most albums sold by any first-time female artist, since the retail tracking system began.

At the same time, Ashanti secured the #1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart and its R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks chart with her song "Foolish." She made Billboard history by having her first three chart entries simultaneously placed in the top ten of the magazine's Hot 100 list. Ashanti is the first female - and only the second recording artist since The Beatles - to accomplish this feat.

That same year, Ashanti won the Grammy Award for best contemporary R&B album. She also received eight Billboard Awards, with her debut album topping the Billboard album chart. In addition, she won two American Music Awards, as well as Soul Train's Aretha Franklin Entertainer of the Year Award.

Ashanti's follow-up release, "Chapter II," debuted at number one on Billboard's album chart and spawned two Top Ten singles. Her other albums include "Ashanti's Christmas" and the platinum-selling "Concrete Rose."

Ashanti made the leap to acting with a role on an episode of the 1960s drama American Dreams, in which she portrayed famed pop singer Dionne Warwicke. She has also appeared on the series Sabrina, the Teenage Witch; Buffy the Vampire Slayer; and Las Vegas.

In 2005, Ashanti made her big-screen acting debut opposite Samuel L. Jackson in "Coach Carter" and also starred as Dorothy in the ABC telefilm The Muppets' Wizard of Oz. In addition, she made a special appearance in the indie Bollywood musical "Bride & Prejudice," in which she sang in both Hindi and English.

JOHN TUCKER MUST DIE opens September 13 in Philippine theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.