HawthoRNe, Jada Pinkett's New Project

TNT's new drama series, HawthoRNe presents new challenges for lead actress Jada Pinkett Smith. The LA Times spoke with starlet whose cast in "A Different World" offered her a break-out into her acting career.

"This is scary for me," Smith said. "I've never liked being in the center." She continues on by acknowledging people calling the series 'Jada's Show', but shares she tries not to see it in that light.

"I feel like stuff like that traps you," said the 38 year old actress.

Jada's husband, the internationally known Will Smith, explains this new territory Jada is exploring brings 'new dynamic' into the household.

"She's opening up her ideas and goals to scrutiny, and that can be a very new and painful place to be," he said. "She is learning how to trust her team, to collaborate."

Jada adds on by expressing her husband's enthusiasm for her to play the lead role, "He's been baffled by this forever…I remember him asking me 'Jada, what do you want? I don't understand why you don't want to be the biggest actress in the world.'"

Jada, being known to play tough girl roles in movies such as "The Matrix" sequels and "Set It Off" explains one of the biggest challenges on playing the show's lead character, Christine Hawthorne, is the sympathetic heart-warming nurse that she illuminates on the small screen. She tells the Minneapolis Star Tribune of the vibe she gives off to the people around her.

"It's so interesting, I was in my trailer the other day and another actress sent her publicist over to tell me how much she likes me." she said. "The publicist said she was scared to come over herself. I turned to my friend who was sitting there and she said, 'Jada, you're really intimidating.'"

HawthoRNe premiers on TNT Tuesday June 16 at 9/8 central.