Rapper Common becomes a leading man in 'Just Wright'

Like many rappers, Common began his acting career playing thugs and sidekicks in action flicks like "Smokin' Aces" and "Wanted." Now he's making the jump to romantic lead in "Just Wright," which opens Friday. Common plays Scott McKnight, superstar point guard for the New Jersey Nets, whose new physical therapist, Leslie Wright (Queen Latifah), has a magic touch. We caught up with the Chicago- based rapper by phone last week.

Do you feel like this role is a big step up for you?It's definitely the first step for me into my leading-man career. Because it allows the audience, and

Hollywood also, to see me as a leading man and to see me in a diverse role. Like, man, this guy can do a sensitive role and a hard-core role.

It seems common for hip-hop stars to be cast as the bad guys.No pun intended! But I approach my acting career like I'm just an actor. Obviously, I have to break through some of the prejudices that exist because I have a background in hip-hop. And if I have to work harder, I will.

The film's poster has you showing some bicep. Did you train before filming?The trainers I used, they really were training me like an athlete. I told them what I needed to do, I needed to be in NBA shape. We did a lot of conditioning drills, things I would never do on my own - way more cardio than I ever did. And I stuck to a pretty firm diet. The time they yelled cut and the movie was over, Latifah and the director brought me some pizzas, and I ate a whole pizza and a half.

Tell me about working with Queen Latifah.She knows me, so she was very supportive, and she could push me when she needed to push me. And the love scenes - I just made sure she knew that I was going to be respectful, and she could be comfortable and free. I gave her that assurance, and we both felt great about the love scenes.

Are any of your Chicago friends razzing you for wearing a Nets jersey?They saw me in a

celebrity basketball game once - I got the rebound, and I had five seconds left on the clock, but my shot got blocked by a girl. My friends started texting me: "Don't ever say you're from Chicago!" They're just happy to see me back on my game.