Given name: Corey Champagne
Where you were born/where you were raised: Born and raised in the ATL [Atlanta] and in the same hospital as actress Julia Roberts.
Current Project: Playing the role of Tony in Crossroads and writing my first EP titled My Truth
Zodiac Sign: The best sign in the zodiac – Scorpio born on Oct 24, 1991, all day every day.
Why did you take this role?
I took the role of Tony because he’s a very level-headed dude who just wants to be a good boyfriend and be somebody in life. Plus, he represented a positive black male image in a film about gangsters and drug dealers.
Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations as a young actor?
Mel Jackson and Sharon Tomlinson have really helped restore my confidence in my acting abilities and have been a blessing in my life and career.
The one movie – attended – that you will never forget:
I’ll never forget going to the movies with my mom in ’95 to see The Power Rangers movie. I remember wanting to be a Power Ranger so bad, and my mom told me that they were actors so at that point I wanted to be an actor.
Your personal acting idols:
Samuel L. Jackson, Denzel Washington,Will Smith and Joseph Gordon Levitt
Last good movie you saw:
The Hunger Games
Some films you consider classics:
Jerry McGuire, Welcome to the Dollhouse, City of God, The Departed, Titanic and The Color Purple
Performer you would drop everything to go see:
Justin Nozuka
Pop culture guilty pleasure:
That Grape Juice, Bossip, reality TV and “True Blood”
Favorite cities:
New York, San Francisco, Orlando and of course ATL
First Concert:
Aaron Carter and Kirk Franklin
Moment you knew you wanted to perform for a living:
Although I’ve wanted to do this my entire life, it really hit home when I started high school – North Springs Arts and Science High– where I got to act and sing every day. That showed me I could do this every day, for the rest of my life.
Worst flubbed line/missed cue/onstage mishap:
Singing “The Star Spangled Banner” at my high school homecoming game and in my mind I was pretending like it was the Super Bowl. Suddenly, in the middle of the song, the microphone went out. But my friends had my back and got the audience to sing the rest of the song for me. [It was] still embarrassing.
Most challenging role you have played:
I would say this role – Tony in Crossroads – because it was my first film. I had to sort of learn as I went and bring up various emotions quickly because we shot out of sequence. But, it was also an invaluable and blessed experience.
Career you would want if not a performer:
I would at least want to work behind the scenes in the industry because I couldn’t imagine doing anything else … so songwriting, A&R, directing and executive production.
Three things you can’t live without:
My family, friends, music and GOD
