NETFLIX ICON STEPPING INTO HER 'VILLAIN ERA' THANKS TO EVIL NEW ROLE

After growing up in the spotlight and landing huge Hollywood roles, Joey King is now ready to embrace her villain era on screen.

The 24-year-old started out as a child actor thanks to roles in the Suite Life Of Zack & Cody in 2006, and 2008’s in Horton Hears A Who!, before leading the hugely popular franchise, the Kissing Booth – opposite Jacob Elordi and Joel Courtney.

Fresh from battling Brad Pitt in Bullet Train, her latest stint in Despicable Me 4 is as far away from those epic Netflix rom-coms as you can get, as she is voicing aspiring supervillain Poppy Prescott.

The movie is set to be released in the US on July 3, before premiering in UK cinemas on July 12.

Arriving at the New York premiere on Sunday morning, armed with 25 beautiful dogs, she opened up about how much fun she had tapping into the character’s evil side.

‘It’s the best. Nothing is as fun as playing a villain,’ she told Metro.co.uk on the red carpet. ‘I tell you, nothing is as fun! Playing a good guy is great and all, but you really feel like you have so much creative freedom as a villain.

‘I’m loving it, and I hope I get to play more villains in the future.’

Joking that her villain era will be ‘on screen only’, she continued: ‘I mean, who knows? Maybe it’ll spill into my real life.

‘Maybe I’ll become like a huge diva tomorrow – if I feel like it!’

In Despicable Me 4, Joey is starring alongside some huge acting icons – including Steve Carrell as Gru, Kristen Wiig as his cartoon wife, Lucy Wilde, and Miranda Cosgrove as their eldest daughter, Margo.

The official synopsis reads: ‘The biggest global animated franchise in history now begins a new chapter as Gru and Lucy and their girls —Margo, Edith and Agnes – welcome a new member to the Gru family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad.

‘Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina, and the family is forced to go on the run.’

Bring it on!

Despicable Me 4 is in US cinemas on July 3, and in the UK on July 12.

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