Q&A / KEKE PALMER, actress: A natural for overachiever role

Teen actress Keke Palmer already has a resume filled with big name co-stars.

Moviegoers need only look to Keke’s breakthrough performance alongside Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett in the 2006 film “Akeelah and the Bee” to know that she can hold her own.

Now she’s playing another overachiever in “The Longshots.” The film is based on the true story of Jasmine Plummer, the first female quarterback to play in the Pop Warner youth football league. The movie, which also stars Ice Cube as Jasmine’s uncle, opens Friday.

It’s Keke’s second flick with Ice Cube. She appeared in his 2004 film, “Barbershop 2: Back in Business.”

The 14-year-old native of Robbins, Ill., near Chicago, was in town last week to promote “The Longshots.” While here, she stopped by McNair Middle School in Decatur to talk with students about the mentor program “It’s Cool to be Smart.”

Q: How was your visit with students at McNair?

A: It was cool to go down there and talk to the school. [Dekalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson] gave me my own day and they also gave me keys to Dekalb County. I try to tell the students to never give up on your dreams.

Q: What attracted you to the role of Jasmine in “The Longshots”?

A: It was so inspirational and that it was a true story. A girl went to the national Pop Warner [Super Bowl], playing quarterback for an all-male team.

Q: Has the role had a big impact on you?

A: Yes. Just that this one girl was so courageous and went out there and was not afraid, and brought a team that had been failing to the top. It made me feel like there are so many inspiring stories out there. I met her toward the end [of filming]. Luckily, I played her just the way she was. She was very, very sweet. Very nice.

Q: How did you start acting?

A: I started when I was 9 1/2 or 10. It was kind of spur of the moment. My dad was reading in the paper about “Lion King” auditions and asked me if I wanted to go down. It was for off-Broadway. I auditioned and out of 400 kids plus I made it down to the top 15. And then I was out.

Q: It was pretty disappointing?

A: I was like, ‘Oh man.’ But it was just sort of cool, and I definitely got bit by the acting bug.

Q: So what advice do you have for young actors who know they have the talent but don’t know how to break into the acting business?

A: If you live in a small town, definitely start looking around online or in the paper for agents. Try to make yourself a local celebrity. And then once you see growth in your own town, maybe visit California or New York.

Q: Already in your career you’ve worked with some big names. What were some of those experiences like?

A: I worked with William H. Macy in “The Wool Cap” [in 2004]. He was very nurturing to me and taught me so much. I’d just watch to see how he [worked]. Since Laurence Fishburne played my mentor in “Akeelah and the Bee,” he definitely took that role on [off camera]. It was so good to work with Ice Cube one on one and see what he’s like as a person. He’s definitely a family man. Very laid back and cool.

Q: You’re a busy actress. “Cleaner,” a film with Samuel L. Jackson, is also due out this year. Do you have any other projects in the works?

A: I have a TV show on Nickelodeon that I’m extremely excited about called “True Jackson.” It’s about a 15-year-old girl who gets a job as a vice president of a huge fashion company. That’s going to be a lot of fun.