(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Rihanna says her character in upcoming movie Battleship is really intelligent and really bad a*s.

The 22-year-old will make her film debut in the action movie based on the classic board game where players try to sink their opponents ships.

Currently in production, it will tell the story of a fleet of ships forced to do battle with a mysterious armada, with Rihanna playing weapons officer Raikes. The pop star is very excited about the project and says she loves her characters lethal combination of brains and a feisty attitude.

I play a weapons officer," explained the star.

"She is really tough, she doesn't stand for anything. In it I just know my weapons really, really well and she is really intelligent, but really bad a*s at the same time.

The singer, who gained weapon training as a high school student member of the cadets, says shes particularly enjoying learning more about arms in the making of the movie. Rihanna admits as well as broadening her acting abilities, discovering more about fighting is proving to be a highlight of the experience for her.

"I have shot some weapons before when I was in cadets in school and so having that little background really helped because I had no time to rehearse or train. But I learned a lot on set. It was really cool actually. That was one of my favourite parts," she enthused.

Battleship is set to be one of the biggest movie events of 2012, and also stars True Blood heartthrob Alexander Skarsgrd and revered Hollywood actor Liam Neeson. (C) Cover Media