Interview with Actress Emmanuelle Chriqui

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Emmanuelle Chriqui (A.I. Aritificial Intelligence, Snow Day, 100 Girls) plays her first leading role in an American film opposite N'Sync's Lance Bass in On the Line.

A Moroccan Jew, Chriqui talks with Jewish Television Network in an exclusive GenJ interview about her traditional upbringing, why she feels prepared for success, and her thoughts on interdating.

Read it while you watch it! The following is a transcription of the video interview:

Jewish Television Network: Shalom.

Emmanuelle Chriqui: Shalom.

JTN: So On the Line is a film about love. Tell me what you think about love.

EC: I think love is a wonderful thing, it makes the world go round. I think, I wish we had more love in it. Unfortunatley, circumstances are such that there isn't. I think this film is a nice reminder, a nice break, to get away, to lose yourself in the sweet story of heightened reality of a boy finding the girl of his dreams. It's nice. It's a break from all the other stuff.

JTN: If I'm not wrong, it's going to be your first big break here in the United States, but you've worked predominantly on Canadian television.

EC: I've worked in Canada a lot. This is my first sort of more female lead in a big studio film. So yes, essentially.

JTN: Are you ready for that, for all that comes with it?
EC: I think I am, I think I am. You know, I've been doing this a long time. And I know that it's what I want to do. I LOVE doing it. And, I think my head is on right. That I'll be able to take it as it comes and be okay with it.

JTN: I definitely think that your background, being a Moroccan Jew makes you tough. I'm a Moroccan Jew, so I know that it is that way.

EC: You know, my family is so grounded, I mean no matter what AMAZING news I have to tell them they're like, "Oh, that's good, I'm proud of you," moving on to like whatever, you know? They don't make a huge thing about things. They're very proud that they keep me grounded. We all need that.

JTN: I know that Moroccan Jews are usually very traditional. Do you come from a traditional family?

EC: I do, I do.

JTN: Tell me about the life.

EC: You know I grew up with the same holidays and such, in an Orthodox manner, in a Kosher home, and all of that. And those are strict rules to live by that I think really shape your personality and discipline. I think they definitely, whether I knew it at the time or not, subconsciously it definitely seeped in to just create a good balance.

JTN: Now, I've met here in Los Angeles, two different Jewish celebrities; eiither they hide it or they're very open about it. How are you?

EC: I'm open. I'm proud of you know, who I am and where I come from. My family is so wonderful. And...Yeah, I'm very proud of it.

JTN: There's always this balance here in America about finding the right partner, and that the parents will like that. Finding the Jew and not the gentile...the pressure with that. Did you have that as well?

EC: You know, there definitely was. And, we could go on for so long about this. Basically, religion to me is a very personal thing. I find spirituality in my religion, so if I meet somebody that I love and they're not Jewish but they respect what I do and they respect me, I can't ask for any more than that.

JTN: Thank you very much.

EC: Thank you.