MTV: Was shooting "Queen of the Damned" more challenging then "Romeo Must Die"?Aaliyah: It's hard to compare them, because they're so different. I play a fantastical creature in "Queen of the Damned." I play a vampire, and not just any vampire. I'm playing the queen of all vampires! She's the mother, she's 4,000 centuries old. She's a bit evil but very regal, so there was a lot I had to do to really find [the character], Akasha. I took months of preparation for that. She had to have an accent, and [I] had to do wire work because she flew, so there was a lot that went into bringing Akasha to life. [RealVideo]
MTV: You just finished shooting "Queen of the Damned," and you're going to San Francisco before you go back to Australia for the "Matrix" sequels. How's that going?
Aaliyah: I don't have to go back to Australia until next year to finish shooting [the "Matrix" sequels]. It actually works out great, because I have the time needed to support the album and tour. ... It's kind of hard juggling both of them, because it's double the workload. But the way I look at is I just let it work itself out, let it flow. If I don't think about it, it won't drive me crazy.
MTV: Have you been doing any special preparation for the "Matrix" sequels, given all the action scenes that are going to be in it?
Aaliyah: I know I'm involved in some action scenes, so they'll definitely train me for that. I'll be working with my acting coach before I go out there, to prepare for my character.
MTV: Can you tell me a little bit about your "Matrix" character, Zee?
Aaliyah: I can't say much about Zee, unfortunately. "The Matrix" is top secret. They're making sure we know that there isn't much that can be said right now. [Smiles]
