Lauren London - Interview

Photo: This Christmas (2007) - Lauren London

Born in Los Angeles on December 5, 1984, Lauren London developed a taste for acting in junior high, although she would be home-schooled following her freshman year of high school. Nicknamed L-Boogie, the 5�2� cutie got her start in show business appearing in hip-hop videos by Ludacris and Pharrell.

Despite making a big splash as an actress as T.I.'s girlfriend in ATL, Lauren recently returned to her musical roots to jiggle in Common's music video for his hit single, �Drivin� Me Wild�. Here, the earthy beauty with that �girl next door� allure, talks a bit about her new movie, This Christmas, an ensemble dramedy co-starring Delroy Lindo, Loretta Devine, Idris Elba, Laz Alonso, Mekhi Phifer, Columbus Short, Chris Brown, and a host of others.

Lauren London: The This Christmas Interview with Kam Williams

KW: You've really skyrocketed to fame after making such an impressive debut opposite T.I. in ATL. Do you feel at all lucky?

LL: I feel really lucky. It's like, �What did I do to get this blessed to work with these people so early in my career?� This is only my second film out, so I'm extremely blessed to get to work with such a great cast.

KW: Who did you get along with on the set?

LL: I just bonded with Regina [King] and Sharon [Leal]. It was a good, good family atmosphere.

KW: You probably weren�t even born when Regina got her start in showbiz on 227, were you?

LL: But I did watch reruns of it on TV.

KW: What's your fondest Christmas memory?

LL: I would say that one of my best Christmases memories was just being with my mom, my aunt, and my little cousin. It was a small Christmas, but it was just shared with us.

KW: What was your worst Christmas?

LL: You know, I haven't had a worst Christmas that I can think of. If you live to see Christmas, it's a good one.

KW: So, Santa never left coal in your stocking.

LL: My mom tried the Santa thing, but I was like, �We don't have a chimney. So, where's Santa gonna� come through?� And sometimes Santa wouldn�t bring a lot of presents.

KW: What's your favorite film comedy featuring a black cast?

LL: I would say all the House Party movies, because I grew up watching them. Kid �N Play cracked me up, just looking at Kid's hi-top.

KW: This Christmas revolves around secrets. Why do you think people keep secrets?

LL: We keep secrets from people that we love because we're afraid of our own truth. I think sometimes we're afraid to hurt people, because you never know. I think we're afraid of what is, and what can't be.

KW: Will the film have a universal appeal?

LL: I think that in any family� black, white, Chinese, Spanish, whatever� family is family. You know that there's dysfunction, and that there's this cousin who doesn't like this auntie. But, at the end of the day, like I say, love brings everybody together. I think anybody from anywhere can relate.