The R&B star hired an acting coach to help her prepare for her cinema debut.
Blige stars in the film I Can Do Bad All By Myself, which opens in North American theatres today (September 11).
Director Tyler Perry (Madea Goes to Jail, Meet the Browns) had Blige in mind when he wrote the role, so the singer took the task very seriously. She explained, "I went and got an acting coach and it helped a lot."
In I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Blige plays the best friend of the film’s star, Taraji P. Henson. The singer added that the role suited her perfectly, saying, "I am a good friend; when I love you I love you hard."
In other news, Mary J. Blige denied recent reports that she would be participating in a Michael Jackson tribute concert.