BeatBoxBetty Interviews BEYONCE KNOWLES about her role in GOLDMEMBER!

Beyoncé Knowles: Beyond Destiny
While her name alone may not ring any bells... her rise to fame sure will.

Beyoncé Knowles is one third of the popular R&B group Destiny's Child, one of the best-selling female groups in the world. Since their 1998 debut album (Destiny's Child) the group has sold more than 15 million albums and singles worldwide and they've graced just as many magazine covers as music award shows. All three members are trying out solo albums and Beyoncé recently appeared in the MTV Hip Hop Opera "Carmen".

But it's more than mere fame that drives this 21 year old to go for the gold.
It's also a family thang. In addition to writing and producing many of the group's songs - including smash hits "Independent Women" and "Happy Face" - Beyoncé's roots are always with her. While both parents are active in helping manage her career, her mother often designs her hair and costumes.

Now she can be seen on the big screen (with some really big hair) in GOLDMEMBER, alongside Mike Myers in the third installment of the Austin Powers series. With everything she's already accomplished, can there be more down the road for her beyond Destiny's Child? Recently I asked her what the future looks like and here's what she had to say...

Beyonce Knowles & Mike Myers on the set of Goldmember
Courtesy of New Line Cinema

Betty: Did you feel like you were jumping into something insane by agreeing to be in this third Austin Powers flick?
Beyoncé: Yes I did. I was very nervous in the beginning. I felt like I was starting completely over - doing something that I had no idea about. They would say technical terms and I'd be completely lost, but I had people like Robert Wagner and Michael Caine who embraced me and made me feel comfortable... oh, and Mike Myers was incredible. I learned more than I ever thought I could in six months.

Betty: How did the reality of making a big budget movie live up your dreams?
Beyoncé: Well, the reality hasn't set in yet. As of today (July 15) I haven't seen any of the movie or the dailies. I don't know if I was too scared before to watch it, but I'll probably pass out because I'm so excited to see it. It will be a beautiful to see it for the first time at the theater for the premiere... I just didn't want to see it before that beautiful moment.

Betty: Who did you enjoy working most with - - was it Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Fat Bastard or the new villain, Goldmember?
Beyoncé: Well I had the most fun with Austin since I had the majority of scenes with him. We had the best chemistry. Fat Bastard was just disgusting! In person it was so unreal, I didn't have to act at all to be disgusted - trust me, that came naturally. Goldmember was also gross because I had to hold his skin and he's just very strange. I didn't get to hang around Dr. Evil as much... although I wish I could have.

Betty: How did you prepare yourself to play the character Foxxy Cleopatra from the '70s? You weren't even around back then?
Beyoncé: That's true. I was born in 1981 so I wasn't around for the 70s but I love that time period - so I watched a lot of blaxploitation films like "Foxxy Brown," "Cleopatra Jones" and "Coffee" - and I watched both Austin Powers films. I also listened to a lot of Pam Grier and the morning of my audition I just spoke to everybody like I was Pam! Everything I said had the word "suga" at the end of it!

Betty: Did you study acting before this film?
Beyoncé: Not really. I went to a performing arts school but I was in the vocal department. And before I could get into any other classes I got a record deal. So then I moved to Los Angeles to start recording our album with Destiny's Child. I did have a lady who helped me on-set with my lines and that helped me feel a little bit more comfortable. But I'd really like to take acting classes.

Betty: What was that first meeting like with Mike Myers and Goldmember director Jay Roach?
Beyoncé: I was really nervous. I literally did not speak during the whole meeting. My mom did all the talking!

Betty: Chronologically, the first time we see you in Goldmember is in the musical number. Did starting off singing help ease your worries?
Beyoncé: Yes it did. I was so happy that Jay was thinking about me when he filmed it that way. And that just broke the ice. The whole crew respected me from that moment on.

Betty: Can you go back to when you were a kid in Houston? Did you hang around your mother's hair salon?
Beyoncé: Yes I did. Headliners Hair Salon. We'd rehearse every week and we'd go to Headliners to test out our new songs on all of her customers. We'd get tips too! My best memories are in that salon - sweeping up hair and trying to be all grown up on the phone like I was a receptionist.

Betty: When you and your mother met Jay and Mike for the movie, did she have any concerns over the project?
Beyoncé: They basically talked about the '70s. Whatever I want, my mom is there for me. She may give her opinion about something but that's about it. I just didn't want to do any nude scenes.

Betty: With so much going on for you by yourself, is Destiny's Child still going to continue?
Beyoncé: We're still strong. We just ended one tour three weeks ago where we were in Europe, Japan and Australia. And we start another tour in January. We just won't make any more albums until all three of us have a solo out.

Destiny's Child: (L-R) Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland & Michelle Williams

Betty: What do you think about fellow Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams and her solo album?
Beyoncé: I am so proud of her. She shocked everybody and she grew tremendously. And now our group is at a whole new level because she has so much more confidence. It's wonderful to see us go out individually and come back better and better. I am very happy for her.

Betty: Is that a concentrated effort from the three of you - to say "We want to stay fresh together, but we have to go our own way and try out new things?"
Beyoncé: Yes. It's really sad how it hasn't been so successful with female groups. Usually they do individual projects because they're on bad terms with each other or they're sick of each other. Sometimes they think they just don't need each other anymore. But it's natural for you to want to do different things and in order to grow, you have to. But that doesn't mean you want to leave the group. And for us, it's working. We're just getting better and better.

Betty: When you were little you must've dreamt about becoming famous. How has the reality been different than the fantasy of it all?
Beyoncé: Well, you don't dream about certain things - like people hiding under blankets taking pictures of you - but it's everything and more. It's more beautiful than you could ever imagine but it's also harder than you ever imagined. Like everything in life, there are sacrifices...but it's worth it.

Betty: Do you have another film projects?
Beyoncé: Yes. I'm starring with Cuba Gooding Jr. in a film called "Fighting Temptations" and we should start filming that next month. It's a romantic comedy and I play a jazz singer who has a son.

Betty: Between Destiny's Child and the touring and now all of this filming going on...how do you find time to just chill? What do you like to do that has nothing to do with either industry?
Beyoncé: I admit I haven't had a lot of down time at all - but I'm going to take a three week vacation and buy a house and some furniture and decorate. I'd also love to learn how to cook something!

Betty: Hmm, that sounds like work to me!
Beyoncé: Well I just want to do normal things. I want to do something for myself. I haven't bought anything in so long...and well, I need something to do. I always have to do something creative or I'll go crazy.

Austin Powers in Goldmember - opens in theaters July 26