The Royal Peek: Esther Baxter

The artist formerly known as Miss Freek-a-Leek, Esther Baxter, makes her triumphant return from her Hollywood shuffle, showing that she still is the object of our desire.

Are you afraid you'll be typecast in Hollywood?

No not at all, I'm not afraid of that. A few of the roles I've been offered had nothing to do with my looks.

Is there any role you won't do?

I pretty much have the same standards as I did modeling. As long as it's anything that's not crazy and raunchy, I want roles that actually show that I can act. We've actually passed on quite a few projects because they weren't going in the direction that we are planning for my career.

That rules out acting like the sex scene in Monster Ball, huh?

[Laughs] That's not in the plans.

Scoff all you want but it won Halle Berry an Oscar.

It worked for her and that was some crazy acting, for real.

You recently moved to Los Angeles to be in the mix of everything, correct?

I am a Californian. My manager has been trying to get me to move out there for about two years now. It was such a big move that I postponed it. But knowing I needed to move here I decided to go ahead and do it.

Why the hesitation?

Because I'm recently single and that was pretty much what was holding me back. Now that I'm single, I've decided I'm going to focus on me and my career and my child.

Unfortunately, there's been more focus on your recent public split with rapper Joe Budden. He does have a track record when it comes to being associated with video models. Did you know this going into your relationship?

With me, I had no idea who he was, what he did, or any of his music.

Seriously? You didn't know about his hit record, "Pump It Up"?

No, I thought Swizz Beatz did that song.

Ouch.

I didn't know anything about his past. And I judged him by who he was and who he presented himself to me.

Read up on more of Esther's interview when the Sept / Oct issue hits newsstands on July 17.