Eminem becomes a movie star

Marshall Bruce Mathers lll has become a movie star in the highly-regarded 8 Mile.

You'll know him better as the controversial rap singer Eminem and this is his big-screen debut, playing in an almost biographical tale which charts a week in the life of Detroit factory worker-wannabe pop star, Jimmy 'Rabbit' Smith.

And he's an outstanding success in what has become one of the year's big Stateside Box Office hits.

The title, explains the Kansas City-Born Eminem (October 17, 1972), comes from the road in Michigan which separates Detroit proper from seven northern suburbs: "I grew up near 8 Mile Road and I actually filmed part of my The Way I Am video on it."

Under director Curtis Hanson, who produced the highly-regarded Oscar winning LA Confidential, 8 Mile is a lyrical and witty film which captures the poetry of the streets and the rappers.

And from Eminem he draws a remarkable acting performance, though when he first told friends that he was about to start a film with the singer they said he was crazy: "All my advisers couldn't understand why I wanted to work with him. He does have a reputation for being, well, difficult at times."

What helped both the director and star was the fact that the latter had never been in a movie before and loved much of the former's work.

"Marshall loved the idea that I was interested in the story, and not all that interested in him being in it. That gave him the confidence to trust me.

"But he gave me all he had. He was disciplined and very serious about making the film work. It wasn't easy for him, but he approached the task with a good degree of humility."

Eminem may have been a pussy-cat on set, but there were still some pretty hair-raising stories doing the rounds: it was reported that he became over-demanding and threw fits.

It was also said that he smoked pot on the set until Hanson laid down the law and ordered him to get his act together. It was, says the director, "fine after that."

There was also a row after the film came out when the singer's mother got upset at her portrayal by LA Confidential Oscar winner, Kim Basinger. The character is, for instance, seen with a beer in her hand, but mum, Debbie, hardly ever drinks.

None of which appears to bother Eminem much for the white singer shrugs off any criticism of the way he goes about his business: "Hay, whoever likes my stuff, likes my stuff!

"I do say things that I think will shock people. But I don't do things to shock people. I don't know how long I'm going to be on this planet, so while I'm here I might as well make the most of it!"

What he does get angry about is the constant reference to his whiteness: "All my life I've been dealing with my race because of where I grew up and being in the rap game. Anyone who pulls the race card gets it right back in their face.

"I get offended when people say: 'So, being a white rapper ... and growing up white ... after being born white ...' It's all I ever get and there are times when I feel like: 'Damn, if I'd just been born black, I wouldn't have to go through all this!"

"He gave me," sums up Hanson, "the best I have ever got from an actor!"

Which is all that needs be said.