Keke Palmer Praises SZA's Acting Debut in “One of Them Days”: 'The World Is About to Be Just Gagged' (Exclusive)

Don't snooze on SZA's big-screen debut in One of Them Days. Her costar in the comedy, Keke Palmer hails the Grammy-winning singer as a natural.

"The world is about to be just gagged," Palmer, 31, tells PEOPLE in an interview alongside SZA, 35, and producer Issa Rae conducted in December. "Honestly, it's so, so good. I really am just so proud of you and the movie. It's all, to me, a match made in heaven."

SZA admits she was nervous about adding actress to her list of talents — or, as she puts it, "scared as hell," "terrified" and "anxious." Still, it's a "bucket-list" moment for her, she explains.

"I'm trying something brand new. All I can do is try my best, you know, and thank God for the opportunity and just kinda lean into and accept it as a growing experience," says SZA. "I have tons of fears of being perceived on camera, talking, my voice [and] being next to Keke, who's a superstar of so many multitudes."

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Palmer, who's been in front of the camera since her child stardom days, says she and SZA first interacted over Instagram DMs (they had a "simple" back-and-forth about "girl stuff," she says) before meeting in person at Saturday Night Live. Palmer hosted alongside SZA as the musical guest on a December 2022 episode, spawning that viral "Bad Boys" cuffing season song.

SZA says she felt Palmer was "larger-than-life, unreal and impossible" after accomplishing so many things over the course of her career. However, "then when I met her at SNL, she was so real and possible and present. So funny and enigmatic. Within three seconds of talking to her I was like, 'Oh, s---!' I loved it. I wanted more."

"It's like looking in a mirror," adds Palmer.

Their chemistry was "good" from the get-go, says Palmer, but it only grew "stronger" the more time they spent filming together, resulting in a true friendship.

In One of Them Days, a buddy comedy set in Los Angeles, they play besties Dreux (Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) as they scramble to get rent money by the end of the day to avoid eviction.

SZA says of her time with Palmer on set, "Every day, 12 hours of real-life conversation. It was like a crash course, like a speed date but very intense."

"We actually liked each other. We was gonna get married at the end. I was gonna say 'I do,' " adds SZA with a smile. Palmer agrees, "It was giving that."

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Insecure alum Rae, 40, who produced the film via her Hoorae Media company, says Palmer and SZA shine together, on camera and off.

"[SZA] freaking killed it, and watching Keke overextend and be like, 'Yo, let's go to each other's houses. Let's rehearse. Let's do this.' Watching her embrace SZA throughout the process, I was like, 'This is something that Dreux would do for Alyssa,' " says Rae. "Watching [SZA] show up and be present and wanting to do the best job possible — and actually doing it — it just made sense and it all fit together."

One of Them Days is in theaters Jan. 17.

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