Crazy in love: Cherry Hill's Ali Larter talks about 'Obsessed' and beating on Beyonce

EVER SINCE she donned a whipped- cream bikini in 1999's "Varsity Blues," Ali Larter has been one of the most striking women in Hollywood.

In her new film, "Obsessed," she's striking Beyonce.

That's right. Ali. Beyonce. Catfight.

The studio doesn't think there's anything else you need to know about this story of an office temp (Larter) who goes nuts for her boss (Idris Elba) and battles with his wife (Beyonce) - "Obsessed" wasn't screened for critics - but Larter, a Cherry Hill native, was more than happy to talk about it.

Q: So how did you come to be "Obsessed"?

A: I read the script last winter and there was some interest in me playing the role and I was very interested in figuring out ways to make this character believable and fun to play. I was always figuring out the clues to her psychosis and what makes her tick. And also what got me excited was when they brought Idris Elba into the movie - I have such respect for him from "The Wire" - and I wanted to work with him and Beyonce.

Q: Are you a confident enough woman to steal Beyonce's man?

A: [Laughs.] One of the fun things about playing Lisa Sheridan is that you take a character who may come across as delusional and irrational on screen, but when you approach playing her it's got to come from a very rational place. So for me, all the things that she does are completely linear in her mind. She thinks that she's doing the right thing. And one of the things we tried to delve into is what happens in the office situation and to play into some of those fears.

Q: Do you like the "Are you obsessed?" promotions with you obsessing over normal schnooks on the Internet?

A: I'm just so excited that Sony is getting behind the movie. You never know. . . . [But what I like about "Obsessed" is that] there's a comfort in going into the theater and knowing what you're going to get, and this movie really delivers that. We just had so much fun making it, and it's definitely in the vein of those female-driven thrillers like "Single White Female," "Fatal Attraction," "Hand that Rocks the Cradle."

Q: Can you talk a little about your battle with Beyonce?

A: It's mano a mano. With this movie you dance that very delicate line where you don't want to fall into the cliches of the scratching and pulling the hair. But at the same time you want to deliver for the audience. You want it to be fun.

Q: Was Jay-Z standing off to the side saying "Don't touch her!"?

A: [Laughs.] No. That girl can take care of herself.

Q: Did you shoot the film during hiatus from "Heroes"?

A: No. It was actually one of the craziest times in my life - I shot them simultaneously. I would go to work sometimes on "Heroes" at 5 a.m. work until 8 or 9 then be at work five hours later on "Obsessed." Sometimes I'd go directly from set to set - I was working seven days a week for two months. It was so unbelievable to put myself through that, especially since I play such emotionally demanding women. But the other side was that I was so thankful to have this opportunity, and "Heroes" was generous enough to work around their schedule and allow me to do this - and not all TV shows do that.

And I really wanted to do it. To get to play these fun femme fatales . . . I feel so lucky.

Q: Is "Heroes" coming back?

A: I've heard that we are. Our fan base is just so loyal.

Q: Do you ever get back to Cherry Hill?

A: I love coming back to the Philadelphia area and going to get a cheesesteak at Geno's. It's such a wonderful city. I hope to one day get to shoot a movie there.

Q: One of the quotes I read from you is that "I'd rather have a guy with a pot belly than one who's in the gym all the time and watches what he eats." So how is it that you're engaged to a 6-foot-2 former college quarterback?

A: [Laughs with a hint of terror.] Aaaauggghhhh! You know you're pulling quotes from a decade ago. One of the things that happens when you grow up in this business is that you grow up. For me the sexiest quality in a guy is a sense of humor, and that's the truth. I love to laugh. The business that we're in is so stressful - you never know if you're going to have a job the next day - so if you're not enjoying your life, you're kind of cheating yourself out on the ride.

Q: One of these other 10-year-old quotes, or this could be a 20-year-old quote, is that you don't like to be scared. So why do you make so many scary movies?

A: They're not scary when you're making them!

Q: In 2008, FHM had you as No. 19 on the "Hundred Sexiest Women," but Maxim had you at No. 92 on the "Hot 100."

A: Oh, my goodness!

Q: What did FHM know that Maxim didn't?

A: I don't know. I stay clear of those numbers. [Laughs.] The only number that matters to me is my man's. *