Janet Jackson unleashes her anger in an over-the-top, dramatic and staggering way in the latest Tyler Perry film, "Why Did I Get Married Too?" But Jackson, who portrays a self-help psychologist in a struggling marriage, explains that she's expressed herself that way in real life, too.
"One time I did," she said. "Not to that extent ... I've thrown one thing."
"It was very therapeutic, I was able to release in such a way," Jackson continued.
"It's good. It seemed to me that you had rehearsed it before in your own life," Perry added.
Perry says Jackson used personal experiences to fuel the pain her character attempts to hide in the film.
"The range that she was showing everyday was this emotional roller coaster and it's all on film," Perry said. "Everything she was going through, everything she's ever dealt with in relationships, it shows up on her face and in her work. I think people get a real personable glimpse from what she did on film."
Jackson, 43, says she took some of the film's intense moments off the set, though she preferred to leave it there.
"There were moments when I definitely brought it home, and not really wanting to but you do and then eventually you unwind. It becomes very draining," she said.
Don’t ask her for marriage advice
The film, which opens in U.S. theaters Friday, follows four couples reconnecting on their annual vacation-reunion. Jackson's character, Patricia, recently released a self-help book, but won't help herself by addressing the problems in her own relationship.
While real-life couples may learn from the dysfunctional pairs in the film, Jackson and Perry aren't interested in giving out marriage advice.
"Never been married," Perry says pointing to himself, then pointing to Jackson, "Twice divorced. You want to ask us?"
"Yeah, not a good thing," Jackson adds.
Perry says he isn't sure he'll create a third chapter of the film, but jokes that we will see him and Jackson together again.
"We're going on 'Dancing With the Stars,'" he laughed. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. No, I'm kidding."