'Rock of Ages' Mary J Blige interview - video

Mary J Blige plays a strip club owner with a heart of gold in this week's big-screen musical Rock of Ages, marking her first film role since 2009's I Can Do Bad All By Myself.

Her character Justice offers down-and-out country girl Sherrie (Julianne Hough) a job after her fledgling career takes a downward turn.


Speaking to Digital Spy, Blige revealed that she hired an acting coach to help her prepare for the role of Justice.

"I was with an acting coach for about a month," she said. "I write notes next to my script, so I can remember things.

"My coach told me to use pictures of things, of me as a child, just different things to make me think about my life."

Defending her character's profession, Blige said: "I don't think she's saying to girls, 'Come and work in my strip club'.

"She's saying, 'This is a rest stop'."

Rock of Ages opens on Friday (June 13) in the UK and Sunday (June 15) in the US.