urrently sharing screen time with veteran actor Morgan Freeman in the suspense thriller Along Came A Spider, Potter plays Jezzie Flannigan, a Secret Service agent who helps crack a high profile kidnapping case. Tribute caught up with the actress to talk about her new movie and busy life.

Most of the films you have worked on over the last few years are quite different. When you read a script, are you consciously looking to mix things up?
MP: Actually, no. If something strikes me as really funny, very intriguing or really touching, then I just go and do it. It's never about managing my career in a way that this would be a good move. I have enough people telling me what to do, so I think that when I read something, if I admire the writing and who's directing it, I just go for it.

You are a single mother with two sons (ages 10 and 6) and have chosen not to live in Los Angeles, but in Cleveland. Why?
MP: I started out living in L.A but nothing except soaps and sitcoms are actually shot there anymore. I have three sisters and my parents who still live in Ohio, so I have a wonderful support team there. When I go away to work, the kids are in school and I have great help raising them.

This was a type of role that what we haven't seen you do before. Was it challenging?
MP: Oh yes, mentally and physically. Physically because I had to learn how to handle a gun and I am really against guns. Also, there were some great action scenes that I got to partake in. Mentally, because there were so many layers to her that I had to stay focused on, but not so much so that it was troubling for me. I sometimes tend to over think things, so with Jezzie I just tried to keep it simple but interesting.

When you take on a role, do you approach it in any special way?
MP: I usually write a synopsis of each character and share a little secret with each one. That helps me a lot but it's really all about what I feel and hoping that the director will allow me to show that.

What was it like starring opposite Morgan Freeman?
MP: He is simply the best. I watched him as a kid on The Electric Company, so it was really a thrill.

Earlier this year we saw you in Head Over Heels, which also co-starred four supermodels. You started your career as a model. Was it fun hanging with these girls?
MP: We had a riot. We went out clubbing when we weren't working. They were really down to earth and a lot of fun to be with.

What's up next?
MP: I'm off to New York to start filming a romantic comedy called I'm With Lucy with Julie Christie, Elliot Gould and Henry Thomas. Something different again - and that suits me just fine!
- Bonnie Laufer Krebs