Last week we told you about how Lil Kim was beefing with Ms. Wallace and Faith Evans regarding her portrayal in the “Notorious” Biggie bioflick.  But lost in the shuffle was the actress that actually was pitted with the responsibility of bringing Lil Kim’s character to life, former 3LW member Naturi Naughton.  No longer the cute, unassuming pop star you might remember, Naturi’s got grown up words, grown up acting skills and a grown up body that she features in ALL its glory in the movie (aka nude scene.)

In a recent interview with MTV she admitted that her background didn’t prepare her to inhabit Kim’s character and that the transformation wasn’t natural.

“The physical part was only half the battle,” Naughton explained. “When I walked in the casting, they really loved the way I looked. It was natural. I was tiny. I’ve always been this way. I used to hate it, but now I’m getting work from it.

“My first audition was not good,” she continued. “The acting was cool, but I didn’t come from the background like Lil’ Kim. I didn’t grow up rhyming; I grew up singing. So I had to go back home and learn the rhymes. It was an adjustment. I came back and killed it. I got the callback with the producer. Then I got the callback for the director, George Tillman. I got, like, five callbacks, but then I finally got it.”

Although Naughton might not have been ready off the bat for the big screen her role as Kim has kickstarted her career.  This month she graces the cover of the new King Magazine sexing it up in her Lil’ Kim character, further suggesting that the grown and sexy Naughton has arrived. King‘s Bonsu Thompson interviewed Naughton for the magazine spread.

 ”The thing about Naturi’s sexiness is that it’s more mystic than aesthetic.  She is this sheltered and shy suburban girl, but she’s also very much a natural exhibitionist. It’s up to her viewer to discover whether, in the moment, they’re getting her good girl or she’s giving them her bad girl.”

“Notorious” hits Theaters NEXT Friday.  We’ll have plenty more coverage leading up to the premier so keep it locked.