Eva Pigford

Interview By: Andrea Tuccillo
AndreaTuccillo@TheCinemaSource.com

With her striking hazel eyes, cropped spunky haircut, and her ability to strut the catwalk with poise and attitude, Eva Pigford made heads turn as the winner of the third season of America's Next Model. Now, instead of fashion shows, Pigford is strutting her stuff on the big screen in Crossover, a movie that ironically marks her own 'crossover' into film-actress territory.

A self-proclaimed 'tomboy,' Pigford wasn't always the polished starlet most of us know today. She'll be the first to admit how surreal it feels to be the new 'it' girl when she was never considered popular.

'It's different. I wasn't that cool girl in high school,' Pigford says. 'I wasn't the one in the cliques. I had 3 brothers, I had long hair I had nothing to do with, I was skinny, I ran track, I wasn't a cheerleader. So now it feels different with people looking at you and saying 'Oh my God, you're so cute''you're like 'what'!''

Certainly more people are taking notice now, and this new movie proves she has star potential. Crossover mixes the gritty underground world of streetball with a touching tale of following your dreams. Pigford plays Vanessa, the selfish, conniving girlfriend of Wesley Jonathan's character Cruise. It was a role that forced Pigford to get in touch with her inner bad girl, a task she says is fine by her'she doesn't mind playing a villain as long as there are good people around to balance it all out.

'I think that in a film and in a script there has to be that person that sets us apart and that makes us look good,' Pigford explains. 'And though I wasn't that person, that person was clear in the film. As long as it's clear that there are amazing black women that are doing their thing'my best friend [in the film] was that girl that didn't mind going to work and was not dealing with men for their money, not trying to have babies'that was [my character]. So as long as there's that person that sets the record the straight, then I'm ok. My integrity lets me do the film.'

With her America's Next Top Model nickname 'Eva the Diva' and this sassy bad girl role under her belt, one might think Pigford would be afraid of typecasting. But she is confident enough in her ability and her choices that she doesn't anticipate it being a problem.

'It has to do with your talent and you just have to be given the opportunity to show yourself in a different light,' she says. 'With Premium [an upcoming independent feature directed by Pete Chatmon] I was a good girl. I played a good girl, a good actress, and I worked and I didn't deal with bad guys. In the movie I have coming out with Chris Rock in February I'm the go-getter. I'm the owner of a club. I'm about my business and it's my stuff and I'm established. And in [Crossover], I'm a bad girl. I think versatility is what makes an actress.'

Just as she hopes to build her range as an actress, Pigford hopes this movie will show kids the vast array of opportunities they can obtain in their future'whether it's becoming a professional basketball player or becoming a doctor.

'I would like young people to see the broad range of options you have in this community,' she says. 'Just because you're given a gift, there's so many ways in which you can use that gift. For example there are people that sing'Shirley Murdock went from singing mainstream R&B to singing gospel. It's the same gift just used in a different way. So this young man being able to play basketball, he can use it to assist his matriculation through college or he can use it go to the pros where it's uncertain.'

So what advice would she give young people who are dreaming about the future' She hopes they will choose wisely and find their strengths.

'Examine your talent, examine what it is about you that's special and be diligent and selective in choosing which avenue you're going to go down and which way you're going to use this talent because there are a zillion different ways and it could be the life or the death of you,' Pigford says.

And Pigford definitely knows the things she's good at and the things she's not.

'There are a lot of thing I do and you might even see me on Broadway but baby I do not sing and I'm not even gonna play!' Pigford exclaims with a laugh.

Singing may not be part of her future, but more acting gigs certainly are. In addition to a supporting role in Premium, she is playing best gal pal to Kerry Washington in the upcoming film I Think I Love My Wife, also starring Chris Rock. Pigford also filmed a pilot for Fox for a show called Wedding Album. Between modeling and acting, she certainly has a lot on her plate, but Pigford is clearly enjoying where her life journey is taking her.

'I think God has strategically planned this step and the paces of my life,' Pigford says. 'I like his plan and I'm going to go with it.'