(7/28/00, 7 a.m. ET) - When it comes to picking movie roles, Janet Jackson tells us she has one main criterion: The material has to be good. However, she explains that there's more to it since her status as a role model to millions comes into play when she selects her projects, sometimes making her decisions difficult. With the drama Poetic Justice and the comedy Nutty Professor II: The Klumps now under her belt, are there any genres Jackson would like to tackle next?" Anything that's good. Honestly, I want to do something that's good," Jackson says. "I would love to do a drama. I would love to do a romantic comedy, and I really enjoyed doing this comedy [Nutty II] even though I was the straight man. I would love to do a romantic comedy. That would be fun."

Does being a famous African-American affect what roles she picks with regard to how her fans see her? "Well, not just the black community, but, I guess, in all communities, you want to have a positive influence," she says. "Kids are very quick to emulate. They listen to what you do and say and it's a fine line trying to be true to yourself and your art, but yet there's another side that might have a slight edge without going too far over that edge for them. Do you know what I mean? It's kind of a tough thing, and I think it's important to have positive roles."

--Steve Iervolino, New York