Keke Palmer gets own TV show

Since bursting on the movie scene four years ago, you’ve seen her as a spelling whiz, a foster child and a girl who made history on the football field, among other characters. Soon you will see her in movies as rapper Roxanne Shante’ from the 1980's hip hop scene and as a psych patient.

But in one week, Keke Palmer fans will see her in their living rooms every week.

The south suburban Robbins native will star in her own television show, True Jackson, VP, on the Nickelodeon network.

“It’s about a 15-year-old girl who gets a vice president’s job at a huge fashion company. I play a girl who is very smart and creative, and get to do a lot of cool stuff. I’m really excited,” Palmer told the Defender during a recent trip to Chicago.

The “optimistic and bubbly” teen said of all the characters she’s portrayed, True Jackson is the closest to the real Keke because she loves fashion and all that it entails. The role is a perfect fit for her.

“I’m happy because people will get to see who I really am. They will see the funny Keke. That’s who I am. I’m also happy that my peers will get a chance to see me doing something that they probably would want to be doing,” she said, adding that she would “love to have my own fashion line.”

Palmer would also like to work behind the scenes in the industry and create more opportunities for herself. The inspiration came from working with actor/rapper Ice Cube while on the set of The Longshots movie, she said. The young starlet said she loves to write, and since she’s often surrounded by movie scripts, it’s a natural choice to start writing her own scripts.

“Ice Cube inspired me with his company, Cube Vision. He makes his own films. That’s something I definitely want to do. There won’t always be roles for young African-American girls. I think if I get my own production company, I can make projects for myself. I can get a couple of books and change them into movies. You can’t wait around all the time for someone to write you a script,” she said.

But “just in case this acting thing doesn’t work out,” Palmer said jokingly, but she seriously plans to attend Howard University and is thinking about becoming an anesthesiologist. “I will still be able to get paid well and live in my big mansion,” she chuckled. “If I make someone pass out too long, when they wake up they’ll remember me from Akeelah and the Bee or Madea and everything will be all right.”

The 15-year-old credits her family for being a wonderful support base and keeping her grounded.

“I’ve never been insecure. My family has always given me courage, so I’ve always been able to get out there and do anything. I’ve always had the confidence,” the teen said and advised her peers to “continue with all your dreams and don’t let anybody put you down.”

True Jackson, VP debuts Nov. 8.