Most known as Rudy Huxtable on the long running “Cosby Show” and currently starring on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” as Miranda, Keisha Knight Pulliam is showing us that it’s rude to categorize her. With a new movie out today, Madea Goes to Jail and launching a new production company, Keisha is a back and better than ever.

ICC: Currently you play Miranda on “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne”. How has that experience been?

Keisha: It’s really been a lot of fun! It’s great to be able to work at home because I have been living in Atlanta for the past ten plus years and Tyler Perry is wonderful to work with. So it has been a great experience.

ICC: In Madea Goes to Jail, you play Candy, a heroin addicted prostitute. How did you prepare for that role?

Keisha: I must say it is different from anything that I have ever played; it was definitely a challenge but a very welcome challenge. I did speak with some recovering heroin addicts in terms of their story and their plight of getting it back together. Tyler Perry was really really helpful in giving me emotions and things I can relate too. Granted, I can’t relate to being a heroin addict but it’s the fact that with those range of emotions you can connect to real life experiences that you had. It was a lot of work and it was very challenging but it’s all worth it and I can’t wait for it to come out. I hope people really enjoy it.

ICC: Audiences and fans have not seen you in such a gritty role. How do you think they will respond?

Keisha: I really hope that they realize that it’s a character that I play. That’s just the wonderful thing about being an actress. You get to play so many dynamic and diverse roles and this is just one to add to my repertoire. I just hope they look at it in terms of my crafts and that this not who I am. That it’s just the role I play.

ICC: You’ve been working a lot with Tyler Perry. How has your experience been with Tyler and what are some of things you have learned?

Keisha: He has taken something that was nothing and made it into this huge empire, against so many odds. I think the greatest thing I have learned from him is how he leads through example with his determination and his belief in his work. Even in the face of adversity and other people having no belief in him. He has made a way out of no way. I think his unorthodox approach to filmmaking is just inspiring. So often some people feel there is only one way to do something and he has shown there are always other options. When one door closes you just need to take another road, another opportunity.

ICC: Speaking of empires, you are launching PULLPEN Productions. What projects will you be working on?

Keisha: I am so excited. I did graduate from Spelman College. I was a Sociology major with a concentration in film. But I probably took more film classes than sociology classes. Being behind the scenes has always been a passion of mine and it is so exciting to be able to realize that dream and start my own production company.

We have some projects that will be direct to our website, PULLPEN.com; we are developing right now and that will be launching in the beginning of 2009. Currently we have some projects and business ventures we are negotiating on the network side.

ICC: You have been made famous with the Cosby show. What did that show mean to you and how significant is it for you today?

Keisha: The ‘Cosby Show’ is still timeless. It’s crazy and wonderful because we have been able to touch and impact so many generations of peoples lives. The lessons on the ‘Cosby Show’, when it first came on it was unrealistic, you don’t have black people that are doctors and lawyers, the whole thing. I think it definitely proves the naysayers wrong and it’s still proving them wrong, because at the end of the day it was all about family.

It was about something everyone could relate to no matter what your race, gender, socio economic, or religion. It talked about issues that everyone had, it made everyone realize that we were much more alike. It’s really crazy and I was so little, it was just what I did. It really didn’t hit me until college and I’m sitting in sociology class and we’re learning about us. I was like wow that’s crazy.

ICC: Do you still see or speak to anyone from the show?

Keisha: I definitely speak to Tempestt (Bledsoe) and Malcolm Jamal. She’s not far; she’s in Memphis working on a project. So we keep in touch.

ICC: The industry has changed in recent years. With gossip sites and paparazzi. How do you feel about that?

Keisha: Well I must say that I am lucky, I&

rsquo;m happy I live in Atlanta and don’t deal with the paparazzi stuff. You can go to Starbucks and get a cup of coffee and the gym and not worry about people following you.

Because of not living in L.A. or New York I can escape that. I did have an incident, I was in L.A. for some meetings and we were coming from dinner and TMZ did get me. My friends always joke, “TMZ is going to get you,” and oh they did. They were just doing their job and sometimes I do feel it has become a crazed phenomenon but I keep my fingers crossed that I can have my anonymity somewhat and enjoy life.

ICC: What do you do for fun?

Keisha: I love having dinner parties and having people over, and just sitting on a nice patio with friends and having dinner and drinks. Being out and about. I love going to the park, just doing regular things. I have two dogs that I love playing with. Just sitting back and enjoying life.

ICC: Since this is InChiCity. Have you ever visited Chicago?

Keisha: I was just there recently. I have some college friends that stay there. I definitely have been there before. And actually I was in the Bud Billiken parade this year. So I was there for that this summer.

ICC: Are there any favorite spots when you visit here?

Keisha: I love shopping and Chicago has wonderful shopping. That’s my favorite part especially going to The Taste. I prefer the summer in Chicago because it is so cold in the winter! I cannot stand the cold weather.

ICC: Anything else you would like to say to your fans?

Keisha: I would like to thank you very much for the support. I know it has been a long long time and I am very thankful and appreciative of the support.