Funnyman Martin Lawrence recently sat down with Metro UK to talk about his new movie ” Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son,” and his role as a father to his daughters Jasmine,15, Lyana,10, and Ameria,8. Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son,” which debuts this Friday, is the third of the series.
The following are excerpts from the interview with Metro UK.
On why he decided to reprise his role as Big Momma:
It is a fun movie and a great ride. The process is a lot of work but it gets results and I think the character is very entertaining. She comes from my mother and my grandmother. I think all families have a Big Momma. Whether she looks like the Big Momma I play or not, we all know somebody like that – a very headstrong woman who is opinionated and a good cook. Big mommas are the backbones of families. They keep you alive, keep you in check, they are nurturing and warm – nothing but love.
On raising children to have decent values in Hollywood:
I make them aware how lucky they are. I tell them I didn’t grow up like they are. I tell them things were different for me and say: ‘You’ve got it good, switch off some of these lights, I’ve got to pay the electricity bill.’ Every now and then I give them something for their wallet – if they do something they’re supposed to. If they don’t do what they’re supposed to I take something away from them. In my younger daughter’s case, I take a doll away and she gets really upset or I take her off the computer – she really hates that.
On whether or not being a parent is hard work:
Yeah but I’ve got good girls. My oldest is 15 and she’s a straight-A student. She is very smart. She’s at that age where she’s liking boys, she thinks boys are cute, and when they come to the house I will have that face on. They better watch out.
On whether or not he was you funny as a child:
Yeah, I think so. In the neighbourhood I would just stand around and the kids would watch me tell jokes and I had an audience before I even knew I had an audience. It was fun. But I’m not the funniest person in my family, I am just the one who happens to do it professionally.
Source:Metro.co.uk