By Rob Alarcon in New York City

The "Queen of Hip-Hop," Ms. Queen Latifah, shows off some high living in "Last Holiday," a remake of the 1950 film starring Alec Guinness. The Queen takes on the role of Georgia Byrd, a department store worker who can't seem to any life in her daily routine - until some unfortunate news catches her off guard. Thinking she has only three weeks to live, Georgia decides to take one last vacation to a lavish resort and make every day count.

Below, Queen Latifah talks about her romantic comedy and working with co-star, LL Cool J.

Q: So how does it feel to take on a role that was originally portrayed by a man? It's like the woman's right to a man's role...

QUEEN LATIFAH: A woman’s right to a man’s role? I like that! All right. You know what? I reserve the right to be creative and able re-conceptualize a lot of these movies. They need to be opened up, or changed, or add a little flavor to them. They need to just a new twist that wasn’t there before. A lot of studios are open to them. Talent drives a lot of scripts that you see. I never limit myself to roles that are supposedly typical female roles, let alone African American female.

Q: When did you first get a taste of what life could be like?

QUEEN LATIFAH: Summer camp, when I first kissed that boy. I didn’t know life could be like that! [Laughs]

To come to New York was definitely an eye-opener as a kid and I just loved New York. When I was young, to come to New York City and see all these big skyscrapers, and this pace, and this energy, I wondered where they were going, where were they coming from, what were they doing? Eventually, I knew that I come here and be a nobody but be anything I wanted to be. It did open up my world. I feel fortunate to be so close to a big city such as New York.

Q: How was working with LL Cool J?

QUEEN LATIFAH: There’s no love interest like LL Cool J! It’s interesting because we used to work together. We managed him for a period of time. His wife is cool as hell; always has been. Working with him was fun because we did come from music background and have made this transition to film. We still have our roots in music. We sit around and rhyme. It’s more of a “relatabilty” because we come from this world of hip-hop and then being one of the few rappers to have their own sitcoms and go into successful film. As far as the role, I thought it would particularly be good for him because you don’t usually see him play this kind of character. I thought it would show more of his range and make him more empathetic to people. It’s a beautiful character that he plays. He’s still that strong guy but not the cockiness and attitude or physicality that you see with many of his roles that are based on his body or what he can do physically. He’s just an emotional, sensitive guy that has a crush on a girl. It’s a classic love story between these two but he’s so shy, there’s an innocence about it that’s just beautiful.

Q: What was it that caught your eye about "Last Holiday"? Was it because Georgia was this shy, innocent person?

QUEEN LATIFAH: That was part of it; to play a character that was shy, meek, and cumbersome; always bending her back for others. She’s scared to take a chance. She cooks these wonderful meals but afraid to eat them for the fear of getting fat. She has all this money in the bank but won’t spend it for the fear of needing money. And she won’t approach this guy whom she’s in love with for fear of being rejected. She’s a woman who lives in fear and that’s not something I embrace as a person. I challenge fear generally, or rebel against it, or fight it, or overcome it. She’s forced to overcome it. It’s not a choice for her. She has to choose her desires and goals over fear because she has only three weeks to live.

Q: Can you relate to that aspect of being an everyday person despite being famous?

QUEEN LATIFAH: I relate to people period. I think I’m a heart to heart kind of person. I definitely relate to the working man. That’s what my family is, that’s where I come from. I’m new money, so to speak, so I still relate to regular struggles and I still commend my mom for holding two to three jobs while taking care of two kids, the bills, and taking us to school. I tend to land on that side.

Q: What do you personally take risks in?

QUEEN LATIFAH: I take risks in things that I think will probably only affect me. I tend to take risks in things that I’m really impassioned about. I ride motorcycles, I drive fast cars. Those things are natural me like hooking up some mac and cheese and some greens for some people. That kind of stuff is fun for me. I’ll take a risk for things that I love and really want. I’m not going to risk your life. I’m not stupid like that. I’m also not going to share my life with the public. There are some things that are still private for me that I like to keep to myself for my own sanity. But I am a risky person. I’m the one you can pump up to do something!

"Last Holiday" opens in theaters nationwide January 13th.