Kimberly Elise is one of the busier actresses to watch this month. On April 19, she stars in the Lifetime TV movie A Day Late and a Dollar Short, based on the Terry McMillian novel. On April 20, she stars as Angela Logan, a woman who saves her home by baking desserts in the UP original film, Apple Mortgage Cake (check your local listings). Based on a true story, the inspiring movie made Elise share with BET.com what special talent she possesses that could save a home, plus, she discusses which addictive TV show is the hot one to watch in her house.
Your film, Apple Mortgage Cake, has an unusual title because it’s based on the real-life story of Angela Logan, a woman who stopped foreclosure on her home by baking cakes. When did you first hear of Angela and why did you want to star in this movie?
I first heard about Angela when I got the script. I loved the script. I thought it was such a beautiful, inspiring story. I couldn’t believe it was a true story. Plus, I loved how relatable it was. It really showed what people are going through in our country with mortgages and finances — just trying to hold it all together. I found Angela's story very encouraging and hopeful. 

Speaking of special talents, what could you do to save your home if you had to?
I could knit up a storm. Hats, scarves, sweaters, pants, shirts and socks for everybody in the country.

Tell us about the other film that you star in this month, A Day Late and a Dollar Short, which has an all-star cast.
It’s a Lifetime movie which stars Whoopi Goldberg, Mekhi Phifer, Ving Rhames, Tichina Arnold and Anika Noni Rose. It’s based on the Terry McMillian book of the same title. It’s about a mother, played by Whoopi Goldberg, who’s trying to fix things in her family and she doesn’t have a lot of time to do it.

You also stay busy on the popular VH1 drama Hit the Floor, which returns next month. You play a single mom with a secret in the cheerleading dance team world of pro-basketball. What do you like most about starring on the series?
I love Hit the Floor. I have such a good time on that show. James LaRosa, who writes the show, keeps it really interesting and I constantly get to surprise people — and I love that. He places no limits or bounds on my character so I never know what’s going to be in the next script. I’m having a really great time with it. I feel very unboxed and it’s great.

Lots of actresses like Halle Berry are returning to TV, and you’ve also done a lot of memorable work on television. Do you think the small screen’s commitment to long-term storytelling is what has attracted you to it?
For me, it’s always been more about the part than the medium. I’ve never discriminated between television and film. Wherever there was a great part or a great story, I wanted to do it — the vehicle didn’t matter. It just needed to be entertaining, have something to say, be interesting or be meaningful to people on a larger level, that’s when I want to do it.

Box office hit films like Think Like a Man and Ride Along now have sequels. Would you want to appear in a sequel or prequel for one of your most popular movies, Set It Off?
Wow. Well I would definitely like to work with all those ladies — Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Jada Pinkett-Smith — again; we had such a great time. It’s been years and years since we’ve all worked together, so that was special. A prequel would be pretty interesting, to see how they all got to where they were when the movie started. But really I think the movie is classic in itself and it doesn’t need anything else. I would rather reassemble with those actresses and do something different together, maybe create another classic. 

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(Photo: Royce DeGrie/Getty Images for UP Entertainment)