Alicia Keys

After several years of anticipation, R&B songstress Alicia Keys will make her big screen debut as a heroic hit woman in the crime thriller "Smokin' Aces." The “Woman’s Worth” superstar will star alongside Hollywood veterans Jeremy Piven, Ben Affleck, Ryan Reynolds, Andy Garcia and Ray Liotta.

“Smokin’ Aces,” in theatres January 26th, is about a Las Vegas performer-turned-snitch named Buddy Israel (Piven) who decides to turn state's evidence and testify against the mob, it seems that a whole lot of people would like to make sure he's no longer breathing.

According to reports, Keys makes acting look easy as she brings the same confidence and emotional depth to the character that she has infused into her chart-topping music.

MTV caught up with Alicia to discus the debut role and why she took this part instead of playing a singer or a famous musician. “I think people definitely expected of me, to be some type of singer or someone close to who I am in real life. But I wanted to do something unexpected, something that took me out of my element. I wanted to trick you completely.”

When ask if things went down in real life could she handle a gun, keys exclaims, “I can absolutely handle a gun in real life. My trainer told me that I might be the best one on the set in regards to the handling of gunfire. Not only did I train with weapons, but I trained physically for the part as well. When I was so exhausted by the last run that they had me do, I was like, "You know I can use a gun, don't you? I can come back for you after this movie is done, and I can handle you!"

On another note, Keys tells MTV that she will probably release her fourth studio album summer 2007. “It's coming together incredibly. I am in love with this album. It's very fresh and new. I'm really enjoying the process, and I think this may be the most fun I've had recording yet, in regards to just being free about it and allowing all the new things I'm learning to come out through this music.”

The album is currently untitled.