Waging on with the film’s tireless PR push, Mariah Carey was up bright and early on Wednesday morning (November 4) to attended the recent Precious press conference at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.

The 39-year-old singer/actress was on hand to discuss the much-talked about drama about an illiterate teen abused by her mother and raped by her father who is invited to enroll in an alternative school.

And while she’s is getting rave reviews for her portrayal of a dowdy guidance counselor, Mimi tells London’s Sunday Mirror that her role was originally slated for Oscar winner Helen Mirren.

“Well I’ve been doing independent films people don’t know about and learning my trade that way,” she says. “Someone told me Helen Mirren had been offered the role of the social worker, but had to pull out. So it was daunting to try and fill the shoes of this great Academy Award-winning actress. But then I decided to snap myself out of that mind-set and figure out what I could bring to the role.”