Rihanna arrives for the BRIT Music Awards at the O2 Arena in London February 21, 2012.[Photo/Agencies]

Rihanna admits she enjoyed playing with guns in 'Battleship'.

The 24-year-old 'We Found Love' singer plays Petty Officer Raikes in the forthcoming science fiction film based on the game of the same name, and says that like her weapons specialist character, she loved working with heavy artillery.

She said: "The one on the boat was so powerful, on the ribs, every time, ugh, I remember.

"I would come back to the set with black gunpowder everywhere -- it was crazy. But it was so much fun. I loved it, every moment. I loved feeling it in my chest."

Military service is nothing new to Rihanna, who joined the army cadets in her home county of Barbados when she was a child.

She told The Sun: "I just wanted to join an organisation. I didn't want to be at school for school work, that was boring. Everything else was kind of not my thing, so I joined the cadets. They had weapons. I wasn't into boys then."

Rihanna reveals another plus side of temporarily trading singing for acting was that she got to trade her towering heels and miniscule shorts for a loose-fitting Navy uniform.

She said: "I thoroughly enjoyed it. I really did. It felt good to not have to think about what to wear.

"Every day was the exact same thing. It was really comfortable."

In the movie - which also stars Liam Neeson - Rihanna does battle with aliens but insists she does not waste time worrying about a real-life extra-terrestrial invasion.

She said: "Now I don't know what to believe, but I'm not worried about it, you know? People are so concerned with the unknown, it's hilarious.

"I mean, whatever is to be will be. And what can we do if they do exist and they do decide to invade earth? We will just know when we get to it."

Although she has vowed not to give up music in favour of acting, she admits she would like to try a few different film roles.

Rihanna said: "I want to do comedy, maybe a romantic comedy.

"I want to try being more vulnerable, but I want to try different things. I don't want to stick to one type of role."