Cool, calm and collected are the perfect adjectives which aptly describe actor Morris Chestnut — just ask his cast mates from his latest comedic flick “The Perfect Holiday.”
The 38-year-old former bank teller burst into prominence 16 years ago playing the beloved yet doomed Ricky Baker in John Singleton’s breakthrough drama, “Boyz in the Hood.” Two years later he landed a lead role in the civil rights movie “The Ernest Green Story,” but it was his pivotal part in “Under Siege 2” and “Half Past Dead” that cemented the gregarious actor’s career in Hollywood. Since then he’s built a solid fan base by routinely playing someone’s love interest — whether in the giddy, early stages of a new love affair or the bitter break-up phase.
“I have been blessed and fortunate and I think that “Boyz in the Hood” left such an impression in people that when they see me I think they just root for me,” says the actor.
In the Queen Latifah produced flick “The Perfect Holiday” Chestnut plays a struggling songwriter who falls for a divorced mother of three reuniting with co-star Gabrielle Union in what many are coining the perfect pairing. The two previously stared in “The Brothers,” “Two Can Play that Game” and “Breakin’ All the Rules.”
“We have worked together so many times before and the good thing about Gabrielle is, aside from her being talented and fine and all that stuff she’s a good person and when you work on a movie for 12-14 hour days you want to be around people that you enjoy being around and that’s what I respect about her. She’s a good person and we all get along,” say Chestnut.
With an upcoming production of the TD Jakes novel “Not Easily Broken” with Taraji Henson and Jenifer Lewis, Chestnut is also stepping into the producer’s chair for the intense drama scheduled for an October release.
“It’s a very strong dramatic piece and I am really proud of that movie. It’s about a marriage that’s not easily broken. Myself and Taraji are married and we have a car accident and it’s about how we have to keep our marriage together.”
Nominated for an NAACP Image Award for his role in “The Best Man,” Chestnut with his smoldering good looks is considered to be one of Hollywood sexiest actors, but it’s an honor he’s quick to dismiss. “I truly don’t think about it,” he admits with a disarming smile. “I have a strong sense of who I am and where I
come from and I remember when I was working in MacDonald’s I wasn’t even in the top 100. I stay grounded and have a good perspective. Once you get caught up in focusing on being a sex symbol I think you loose a sense of yourself and what you should really be focusing on which is the work.”
“The Perfect Holiday” is currently in theatres
