Mike Epps has what it takes to be the next breakout star and he knows it. The actor-comic has the swagger, edginess and the material to go along with a silver-screen appeal. Epps, who had roles in the Cedric the Entertainer vehicle The Honeymooners, Roll Bounce and Something New, is slated to appear alongside Martin Lawrence in the forthcoming film The Better Man. He's also featured in the sci-fi thriller Resident Evil: Extinction and will score face time in such future releases as Next Day Air. He recently spoke via phone about his frustrations with Hollywood and why he prefers doing stand-up. - Ed Condran

So far, your performances on screen are tame compared to your stand-up. You've picked up some nice work, but it doesn't deliver the knockout blow.

I'm handcuffed. I'm trying to do my thing in Hollywood, but it doesn't work that way. In Hollywood, they keep you down. They try to pigeonhole you. Show business is bad. It's as bad as you might think it is. Out here you got to make your own movies. You have to go underground.

So will you make some indie movies?

That's the way you can be yourself on screen. I'm going to do what I have to do out here. Only the strong survive. I'm a soldier.

You're in Resident Evil: Extinction, which should be good for exposure. What was it like doing the movie?

It was a very good experience. I'm doing my best. I'll do what I have to do, but my favorite thing to do is be me.

But you can't be you in movies, especially in The Honeymooners. It had to be pretty frustrating playing the black Ed Norton.

It's painful thinking back about that movie. It's painful when you think about how funny it could have been, but they were stepping on my neck. I just think we could have done more with that film. I think we could have made those characters [Norton and Cedric the Entertainer's Ralph Kramden] blacker. I'm still disappointed.

It wasn't as bad as the black Odd Couple. That really sucked.

It's hard. I like to do everything to the best of my ability. I just think we could have made that movie really interesting. But I didn't have control. There's only one way I have control and I love that.

So you're referring to stand-up?

Yeah. I love going out on the stage because nobody tells you what to do. It's the greatest feeling in the world, at least for me.

But you have some good movies to your credit.

I can't depend on Hollywood. Stand-up is my bread and meat; without it, I can't eat.

You could be a rapper.

I just want to make people laugh.

You're a pretty practical, nuts-and-bolts type of guy.

I'm the way I am because of the way I grew up. Not every comic grew up the way I did. I grew up on the streets of Indianapolis. What I experienced, I can't get rid of and maybe that's a good thing. I had a rough childhood. I was fighting ever since I was a kid. I carry so much baggage from those days. It was a tough time, but I rose above it. I got tired of being in the juvenile detention center. That place is no fun. Only the strong survive and fuck it, I did. I ain't weak. I did what I had to do. I had no alternative. Comedy was my ticket out, and I cashed it in. It was the best thing I ever did.

Has anything surprised you since you went from the gritty Indy 'hood to the fabulous world of Los Angeles?

The thing that's surprising is that the more success and the more money you have, the more problems you have. But I can deal with those problems compared to where my life was when I was a kid. Those were bigger problems.

I hear you're a bit of a ladies' man.

All I can say is that you gotta tell the ladies to come down to the show. Tell them that it ain't about your beauty, it's about your booty.