Rihanna brings ‘Real Intensity’ to ‘Battleship’, says director

Besides facing the normal challenges of the summer box office, “Battleship” has a cast full of young actors, like Taylor Kitsch, Brooklyn Decker and pop superstar Rihanna trying to prove their skills in a big-budget movie.

In the case of Rihanna, many skeptics turned their nose up at the idea of the singer making the crossover to acting, but her director on “Battleship,” Peter Berg, told MTV News at New York’s Toy Fair that she was a natural.

“She was great,” he said. “She has a very strong part.”

Berg insisted that Rihanna’s casting was not as unorthodox as many may have thought, citing a whole host of singers who act. He has even had personal experience helping performers make the transition.”I’ve always believed in musicians as actors. I had great success with Tim McGraw in ‘Friday Night Lights’ and ‘The Kingdom.’ Musicians have been acting since Frank Sinatra won an Oscar for ‘From Here to Eternity,’ ” Berg said. “Barbra Streisand, Kris Kristofferson, the late Whitney Houston, I thought, was tremendous in ‘The Bodyguard.’ As recently as Mariah Carey in ‘Precious,’ she was great.” The director thought it was only a matter of time before someone cast Rihanna in a film; he just wanted to be first. “I was surprised no one had ever thought to hire Rihanna,” he said. “I was a huge fan of her videos. Obviously she’s sexy, but she had this real intensity. I’m like, ‘Someone’s going to get her.’ “

When Berg initially met with Rihanna to talk about “Battleship,” it was her attitude that made a lasting impression on him.

“When I met with her, she came in a T-shirt and jeans, no makeup, very natural,” he said. “She was like, ‘Look, I want to be an actress. Don’t kiss my ass. Don’t lie to me. Push me. Treat me as you would any other actor. Help make me good.’ She is really, really good in ‘Battleship.’ “

LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW

Nenns

YES!!! That's our girl!!!:-*
http://twitter.com/TakeCareOfMeRIH @TakeCareOfMeRIH

Rihanna slays in everything she does :D….Btw TTT is released the radios sooooo BACK 2 WORK!!
doubline47

I CANT WAIT TO WATCH,SHE IS A HARD WALKING GIRL
http://twitter.com/RumbleQueen @RumbleQueen

rihanna doing it big love it
TK-75523

Rihanna is a strong young woman! Love her <3333
I LOVE RIHANNA <33333333333333333333333
Bodacious

Rihanna you are looking good, keep your focus
& do not let Distractors side track your focus!!!!!!
SOSMANDOWN

@ ali, yes, Rihanna's AMA 2010 was cute! BUT, from a guys point of view Grammy 2012 is "THE DRESS", just trust me on this one! Ryan Seacrest and myself said the same thing, "THANK YOU!" The minute Rihanna walked the red carpet, it was like the other women didn't exist! Hum, where did I hear that before?
SOSMANDOWN

@ Bullseye, Welcome Back! Congrats on your girl making the Vogue Cover, didn't know Vogue made a XXL issue. If you post me your address, I'll be more then happy to personally deliver your Vogue magazine to you. In other news I heard Rihanna and Adele our gonna do a video together for "Birthday Cake". Rihanna is going to sing 'Birthday Cake" and Adele is going to EAT the "Birthday Cake." LMFAO!!
- Rih4life
  
  I cant help but to laugh at adele's joke
Bodacious

@Yawsee,,,,And so R U!!!!
Bodacious

Rihanna keep working really hard and winning!!!!
Rose691

Isn't it strange Adele got all those Grammys. People were happy for her but it seem more of a' Rihanna Grammy Night" from her dress to her performance. The news, blogs, internet and people are still buzzing about her dress, hair, shoes and even her nails. Rihanna is a trendsetter and Fashion Icon with the body of a Super Model and a voice and songs miliions around the World love. She knows there will always be haters. You can please some of the people some of the time but you can never please all of the people all of the time. The person to please most is yourself. That why she definitely has the IDGAF attitude and we love her for it. She refuses to be bullied.
Bodacious

They had to award adele so they would not look like such a fool
for awarding 6 to another artist in one night a while back. Rihanna's
"Loud" Was a great body of work and sold really good and had Hits
Yet they Awarded Others who have not done as good for the year, those
are things that make you go WOW, But it's okay it is not going to stop the
Show because the show must go on, Navy.
Rihanna & Her Navy will keep right on being Happy, Healthy & Prosperour!!!!
- RihannaFan4Life
  
  @Bodacious I see were you're coming from.If they awarded CB and kanye for their album they should've awarded Rihanna for Loud.I don't care what anybody has to say, she should've won best pop album.Her album was a huge success and she was big before all of those artist.In fact all of her albums are you huge.Rihanna has mad haters in the US. I can tell you that but it doesn't matter.She is better than the grammys because she has over 100 awards.Most of those artist only dream of that.A grammy won't hurt her.Rihanna will soon be a pop legend.
  - Raikeshi5
    
    One of those haters of award shows seem to be the Grammys, then next in line is the MTV. People complain of Rih as a performer. She couldnt even get on MTV over lesser talents unless in its like with Eminem or that one she did with Live Your Life, although she got in for like Disturbia. Yet they would sure to have stiffs like Taylor or Adele without blinking, in a heartbeat. The best awards show for me is the AMA. They can recognize class and real talent. They are the elite award show. The Grammys have lost alot of their credibility years ago. I remember back in the AMA days of Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson, and Whitney. To coin a phrase from Whitney, AMAs "I will always love u!" They know how to showcase and acknowledge real talent real well. Grammys is not needed next year b/c Rih would coincidentally and conveniently be on another huge tour performing for her fans who matter more.
Bodacious

@SOSMANDOWN
@ROSE691
Cosigns You Officers and it's the truth You Speak!
@ Navy, The race is not won by the fastest Runner but by those who Endures to the End!!!!
Cash

Bullshit we know it's you!! stop changing names Lol
Cash

Thumbs up bullshit lol
Bodacious

RihannaFan4Life,,,,Yep She Out Sold, Out Paced Many Who Won.
From where i sit the only Person who Out Paced Every One Was ADELE
But after Adele Rihanna was the top Seller, i am finish with award shows, Period!!!!
Bodacious

I am so upset right now mt have got the
police report of what happened to Rihanna
with her ex and i should not have read it now i am
physical sick & sadden! I wished there was a way
Rihanna could make that web sight Stop Doing this!!!!
- SOSMANDOWN
  
  First time reading the report on smoking gun. C.B. is a little girly man. The report stated that after he beat her he left the scene of the crime. Then he called M. Ford, like nothing happened, M. Ford told him that Robyn called her and told her what happened between them. Then, this stupid jackass ask's Melissa if Robyn gave the police his name? LMFAO. I could hear his voice right now. " Yo, Melissa you think she snitched on me? Gave them my name and sh#t?" Melissa's voice, " Ah, ya, you stupid F#ck!" Classic!!!!!
  - Bodacious
    
    @SOSMANDOWN,,Her ex is acting like he's off, cursing and going off on twitter
    i read someplace, just shameful. Rihanna has moved on with her life and career
    and so have her navy, we ride with Her Always!!!!
    - SOSMANDOWN
      
      @ Bodacious COSIGN!!
SOSMANDOWN

Trending on twitter – RIP C. B.
ali

I Stopped with "Don't kiss My ass" part , i wish she would say that to her management team , who are lying to her and making her look bad .

If i was on her team , i'll be screaming at her , telling her to get her act right .

First i will tell her to stop releasing albums every year .

Second i want her to move to New York , i'v always seen LA cheap and for trashy stars .

Third her image , i want her to stop trying to be a bad ass , she is a bad ass but i want her to stop proving it .

Fourth i will tell her to be more involved in her music and performances , vocals wise , performance wise and artistic wise .

I love you Rih but i won't kiss your ass either .
- SOSMANDOWN
  
  @ ali, there are reports out there that her record label is telling her to cut it out. I have read one article where they told her to stay away from C.B. Rumor has it she is releasing Birthday Cake on her Birthday, Feb.20th. The bad news is, will her label drop her? I can't get over the fact that there are NAVY FANS who don't have a problem with her and her ex. rumored to be back together. On this topic Robyn needs to think before she thinks. Am sure she doesn't like being the face of domestic violence, what person does. But, she can be the voice against domestic violence. Happens once shame on him, happens twice, shame on you. Just hope this time she can defend herself a bit better. One scare on her pretty face and her career will be over. No more pictures on the cover of a magazine.
  - ali
    
    Can't blame her shes young and rich , she have everything she wants except for love , and she still thinks that she belongs with CB , when she can have any man in the world she pics a monkey .
    
    I promise you that Rihanna will fall in a HUGE mistake in her life/career THEN she will get her act together , trust me this the law of the universe .
asia

ehii ciaoooo mi chiamoo asia vengo da Milano………………………………………….amiamoooo moltissimooo Rihanna <3 <3 <3
lilly

rihanna is going to be a outstanding actress. just from her videos it shows that she has the skills to be a good actress.
it would be cool for rihanna to attend the oscars to promote battleship.
RihannaFan4Life

Rihanna will NOT have CB in Cake and she will never do a song with him.Cake does not only belong to Rihanna.The producers will not have him in the song period! Rihanna fans are not having it so she better think about that.She just needs to stay away from him.He is no good.He has a mental problem. Honestly I think the reason they had that big fight was out of jealousy.I think CB was jealous of Rihanna's success during that time.Thats how Ike Turner was with Tina.I think she just needs to move on.He made a mistake but the basterd tried to kill her.She doesn't need to be with him.
- SOSMANDOWN
  
  Great comment RihannaFan4Life, YES!
  - mdd
    
    She knows better than to let CB on Birthday Cake. It would be Career Suicidei for her. Is it me or is her music career in jeporady right now. I hope she wakes up and matures soon. It seems like she has a no care attitude right now.
- Mike
  
  I Agree with you and i dont think the label would allow it also…she still kinda need there approval in a way…her management team wont let her do that either and i think Jay-z who is her mentor would be totally agaisnt and she know her fans will be piss if she does that and you know rih loves to make the navy happy
Raikeshi5

Lol. L o l!
Bodacious

@summa not the time nor place no one knows
what's in another heart, you do not know nothing
get lossed!
mdd

Do not know what to think with all the CB talk. This is so three years ago. What is all this her about being dropped from Def Jam. I hope Def Jam keeps her. I think releasing a new this year would be a big mistake. She needs to focus on fashion and her acting career. She needs to let the fans forget about new music for awhile.
http://twitter.com/thelegalstep @thelegalstep

After this she needs to do an indie film.
- Bodacious
  
  @thelegalstep,,,,me too!!!!
Bodacious

@Raikesh5,,,Love your grav. and i Cosign You Ofc.
I Love reading you and less all of us keep commenting on our
Own Turf and Run the Trolls Away, For Good, Lol Deep in a special
Place in my Heart, I wish she would consider doing the remake of
the Bodyguard, shhhhh i do not want the trolls to hear me thinking
out loud!!!!
sasa

i don't get it.. rihanna is a MUSICIAN! she should be releasing new music as often as possible! thats what i love about her, i can never get tired of her cos she is always doing something new and different with music! people get bored of hearing the same music over and over… so rihanna actually acknowledges that and makes new music! thats why she is so great and i love her no matter what she does in her personal life and relationships thats up to HER not her FANS!!!!
Maex

Y'all act like Rihanna is in the business for 2 Days. She knows what to and knows the rules, she's a professional.
Right now i think she is a little bit lost (from the look and rumours…they always have something true…)
but this time will end and she will get back to SHINE..just listen to her vocals on WFL grammy performance!
IMPROVING BIG
- SOSMANDOWN
  
  @ Maex We're just VERY concerned fans. Nobody and I mean nobody in RIHANNA NAVY wants to see her get hurt like that ever again. To add to your comment about "Y'all act like Rihanna is in the business for 2 days", 'professional" and finish with, "right now I thinks she is a little lost." Sorry, that makes no sense. And by the way her lite never dimmers, she always shining! That why she's called Little Ms. Sunshine! Shine on, Shine on!
  - SOSMANDOWN
    
    correction "light never dimmers" dare public schools!
……

If she ever goes back with CB Jay-Z is not going to be please. Roc Nation is her bread and butter. She better be careful. Once bitten twice shy.
……

Those grammy people have something against Rihanna. You can see it. It is plain as black & white. I beleive because she is doing so well and not an American.
- ikkinnik
  
  Uh Adele isn't AMERICAN.
  
  Next.