Tatyana Ali is all grown up from her teen years as Ashley Banks on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air

For all the stories you hear of child actors going bad when they get to adulthood, Tatyana Ali is not one of them. The 29-year-old actress and singer best known for her role as Ashley Banks on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air decided to go to college after the hit NBC show ended. She enrolled at Harvard University and in 2002 received a degree in Anthropology. Today she is working on her latest album The Light that will be out later this year and you will see her in the soon to be released flick Hotel California besides her work this election cycle. Ali admits she’d love to do Dancing with the Stars, has sympathy for Lindsay Lohan, and that the Fresh Prince of Bel Air cast are all still very close among other things.

                                                                                Rod Lurie with Geena Davis.

Sometimes you become a journalist first and then you decide you want to direct movies about journalism instead. It is the story of Rod Lurie’s career who just directed Resurrecting The Champ this past year and will be putting out another movie this year about sources and journalism titled Nothing But The Truth. Lurie as well is one of the people responsible for the ABC hit Commander in Chief a few years back where actress Geena Davis played the female President of the United States. He admits he has learned some valuable lessons along the way, but has great respect for the media even through its changes.

He is one of the founding fathers of Hip Hop, but Russell Simmons had to answer a lot of questions last year. The comments of radio shock jock Don Imus led to a discussion of the rap industry and many derogatory comments that were directed towards women. A lot has changed in the last year and Simmons says he thinks every day about the things that are put out there. Besides that, Simmons bestseller Do You! is now in a paperback edition out this week. It’s a book about taking control of your life and never giving up to achieve the things you want.

You could say Whitney Port has lived a quieter public life than her friend Lauren Conrad, but it doesn’t mean she hasn’t been along for the crazy ride. In the popular MTV show The Hills you will constantly see scenes where she is working hard to be the best she can be, but also listening to what’s going on in the lives of the people around her. She considers herself a normal girl and never expected to have her life featured on a high rated TV show. Though it’s obvious Port has taken advantage of her fame, she has a new fashion line coming out this August. You will also see The Hills girl for ten more new episodes on tap starting this week, but it seems Whitney’s life will be the same once it is all said and done. 

Photo Credit Lester Cohen

You could say Angela Bassett is in the top five all time when it comes to African American actress. This week the legendary actress got her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and her new movie Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns came to theaters nationwide. At the age of 49 she seems grounded, happy, fortunate, and blessed to be where she is. Whether it is social issues or her craft she is ready to give you an answer and love DOES have everything to do with it.

Photo Credit Giuliano Bekor

It’s been an amazing last few years for Ana Ortiz. The older sister of fellow actress America Ferrera’s character Betty on the hit ABC show Ugly Betty has won an Alma Award as a best supporting actress, gotten married, and is looking forward to starting a family. She was under the weather when I spoke to her a few weeks ago, but her enthusiasm came through that after many years in different projects she has finally found her place.

Jake Roberts with Chris Yandek

Jake Roberts will be one of the first current or former WWE employees to finish the rehab program the company is currently offering. The program started after the death of wrestling superstar Chris Benoit last year which got mainstream media attention everywhere. It’s been a long road for one of the biggest superstars in the history of professional wrestling, but he in the best shape of his life since 1992 and is motivated to stay that way. Before he leaves rehab at the end of the month, Jake sat down for his first interview since entering rehab and he reflects on the experience and where he is personally now.

The last year has been a breakout year for Djimon Hounsou. The native born African actor got nominated for his second Oscar alongside Leonardo Dicaprio in the action thriller Blood Diamond. The actor also finally come out as the boyfriend of fashion queen Kimora Lee Simmons. Speaking of fashion, he is now one of the new faces with Calvin Klein. The possibilities are endless for a man who is fortunate to be in the position where he is right now.

" EVERYBODY HATES DRIVING" -- Tyler James Williams as Chris stars in The CW series EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS.  
Photo Credit: LISA ROSE/The CW
©2007 The CW Network,All Rights Reserved

If you watch Everybody Hates Chris you know who Tyler James Williams the actor is, but in his real life while not on set he is a fine young man who is bright, well spoken, and isn’t consumed with the hype that could be around him. The 15 year old is happy for his opportunity, but you wonder if he’ll be able to make the transition from child to adult actor. In the end, you can’t root against this guy. Williams speaks candidly about so many things and I feel he is a good example of teenage celebrity who would be a good role model, but it’s obvious he is beyond his years.

Sean Faris resembles a young Tom Cruise, but it’s too early to tell whether he’ll be a second coming of him. The twenty five year old actor got his break in the 2001 flick Pearl Harbor, but now he stars as the lead role across from Djimon Hounsou in the action flick Never Back Down out in theaters March 14th. Faris seems grounded, responsible, and is doing his best to stay away from the path of other troubled twenties actors. 

Chris Yandek's interview with Eva Longoria Parker is the cover for the Februrary issue of the Hispanic publication Escena.