Glamour 2003 Article
Sipping lattes in the dimly lit room of a hollywood recording studio, I realize I'm getting the first audience with the New Britney spears. She definitely looks like the one we've all known since she burst onto the scene in 1998 with...baby one more time. The poured-on jeans and baby-pink cut off T are regulation Britney. But after a few minutes, it's clear something's shifted in her. In the flesh, probably the most surprising thing about Britney is the steeliness behind the suga-spun sweetness. Ok the voice is still bubbly and high-pitched when she's excited about a topic, but there are also the moments when she pierces me with a stare and perfectly mimics my clipped English vowels. As she puts it, "I think sometimes, because I'm from the south [Kentwood, Louisiana], there's a misconception. Girls from the south are really nice, so people think we're pushovers. y'know? [laughs] We know how to work it - it's about being a lady and getting what you want. Not being aggressive. Putting it mildly, the past year has been a wild ride for Britney spears. Her split from Justin Timberlake was the world's most public since Tom and Nicole. Then the timing being the ***** it is, this coincided with her parents' separation. personally , things were a little wobbly, too, when US sales of her third album , Britney were incredible (over 700,000 in the first week) as opposed to bloody incredible for her second Oops!....I did it again (over 1.3 million first week sales). Then, when she dared make a fun, upbeat movie , instead of say , an art house subtitled masterpiece, it sparked the sort of media tongue- lashing normally reserved for people who con old ladies out of their savings. But you get the feeling Britney realizes this last year has been a liberation, Both personally and professionally. After the normal period of heartbreak hibernation, Britney has emerged to find she loves being single- single, really, for the first time in her adult life. She also seems to have finally realized she's the hottest freakin' babe on the planet. And a bonus? That the media obsession with the pesky virgin issue has waned. She smokes, she drinks and, like every other 21-year old woman, so what if she has the odd casual snog? (Hers happens to be really hot film stars) Later this year, she'll release what promises to be her most mature album to date. She's also considering new scripts for more challenging film roles. For all these reasons and more GLAMOUR's proud to give pop's 21st-century princess another crown: Woman of the year. Although from the sounds of it, the next 12 months and beyond will see britney truly becomming her own woman.

So what have you been up to since the world last saw Britney spears?
"I've been recording and reading scripts and I took a break. When I did crossroads, I was everywhere in the media. So I wanted to slow down and give myself a chance to breathe. But when I did that, I got even more press - it was news that I was taking a break! And, um, I've been dating! And having fun. I used to be a little bit too much about the work."

When did you last cut loose?
"Last night! I went to a premiere with Colin Farrel. He's a doll."

How well do you know Colin?
"I've known him for about two weeks now. We're just friends. It's nothing serious. But he is so hot! He's adorably cute. I didn't even watch the movie- seriously... I don't know what it was about! I watched him the whole time and i'm like 'Holy crap, he is so cute!' "

So when are you going out again?
"I don't know. He's Mr playboy so we'll see."

Are you going to call him?
"There's a time and a place to be aggressive with men. At the beginning it's cool to let them know you're interested, to spark things; but I think men should call women. Last week one of my girlfriends was calling one of my [male] friends and saying 'call Britney!' and i'm like 'What are you doing? That's not how it works!' Maybe, like me, she thinks a lot of men would like to call you but you're so famous that they're scared to?"

I see what you're saying.
"It's weird because I'm probabaly more insecure than they are."

What's your side of the whole Justin thing? Is it true that you've reacted to Justin's cry me a river by writing your own retaliation song?
"No, I would never do that. That was his way of dealing with what happened. Maybe that was his way of expressing himself and getting that out there. I would never air his dirty laundry like that."

So, what's your take on the song?
"I think the way the whole thing went down it was a lot to deal with anyway. But it was just like, times ten with the whole freakin' world watching. It was so overwhelming. And the way Justin played everything was very clever by saying stuff like, 'I'm not saying anything,' but...[smiles] then he's writing a song and making a video. It's like, 'WHAT are you talking about'"

So how did you feel seeing the video?
"Well, I was a little shocked and disappointed, but everybody has a side and has their story. And he chose to tell the world his like that. And that's cool. I just don't want to be the person to go there."

How was it at the American music awards when the osbournes were publicy teasing you both? [From the stage Sharon Osbourne asked them why they couldn't work it out] I know i cringed for you! [laughs]
"That was a little awkward! But honestly, if you take it too seriously, it's going to really bug you. Justin's a great person, he's a wonderful person. But i'm not in... how i used to feel for him. At all. So it feels nice to be able to not really care. Is that a bad thing to say? Not at all.

Do you feel kind of cleansed of it all now?
"Yeah, I think so. I just got an apartment in New York. I did everything in it myself. It was right when we broke up and I was like, 'I've rebelled, honey!' It's the most girlie apartment ever. I love it."

Shall we just confront the last rumour while we're at it: Fred Durst?
"We worked together on three songs. He's a great guy. And he's said some amazing things about me. But um, I think he leaped in too deep, too quick. And i'm not 'there'. I just want to have a good time. We're great friends, he's a really sweet guy."

Was there anything romantic there?
"I think him for me, but not me for him."

Has what you want in a relationship changed now?
"I'm a bit more open to people than I used to be. I don't want a serious relationship right now. Every relationship i've been in has lasted about four or five years. I was that girl, y'know? The one-person girl. It's cool to be able to just date for fun."

That really is new for you isn't it?
"Yeah and it's cool because the guy i'm dating right now had that kind of thing in the past, too. He went through the whole spiel with the break-up thing so he wants something light.

Are we talking about Colin Farrell?
[whispers] "um, i'm not going to say."

So tell me about the new album you're working on....
"I'm really proud of what we've done so far. People are going to be surprised by some of my new work. It's so creative and out there and different. I have to have self-worth as an artist and do something that i believe in."

What about your film career?
"I'm supposed to be doing a movie in April. I have to make a decision between two roles. One is playing a kind of mentally disturbed girl: it's an amazing, challenging role and i've never done anything like it. But that's why i'm also a little nervous about it; the character is not me at all. But I don't want to pass it up because I don't know if anyone would give me a role like that again. Then there's this role, that's like a Julia Roberts kind of thing- a fun, romantic comedy."

Does it frustrate you that people think they know you inside out?
"I think generally people probabaly see me as a sweet goody two-shoes and that's cool; at heart that's how I am. But I do have a wild side."
When you look at how powerful you are as a celebrity, do you ever want to do something really mad, like start a really stupid fashion trend just see what happens?
"Oh, I always play with people. I've gone to clubs in my PJ's and everyone's like [puts on dumb voice] 'Hey, cool! She's wearing her PJ's,' And it's not cool! Yeah, you have to do stuff like that sometimes."

Whose style do you like?
"Jennifer Aniston always looks very put together. I love that. But I have so many different sides. I like to be sophisticated sometimes. But then I'd love to dress like Gwen Stefani. She's the only one who can get away with it, though - I could never wear some of the stuff she wears."

Well, you got away with the PJs...
"Oh, you're right, OK! I tell you what i have done, I get pantihose [tights] and cut the crotch out of them...."

Oh my god, where's this going? [laughs]
"No seriously, listen to this. I've done this before - it's so No Doubt. You put on a black bra. Then take your pantihose, the fishnet kind, and cut out the crotch and the top of the feet. Pull them over your head [putting your head through the hole you made in the crotch], put your hands through the 'legs' and pull the 'waist' over the bra - it's the cutest shirt in the world. You should market it. I went out and got so many freakin' pantihose with all these different designs, and I did that, and it was my whole wardrobe. It's a good idea though - you'd like it."

Do you dislike anything about fame?
"Sometimes I really do wish i could do this and not be famous. And people are like, 'But you love being on stage.' And i do, and my time to be a performer, it's expressing yourself and having that feeling and that energy. But when I come off stage I'm just me."

Do celebs stick together because they're the only ones who can really understand that?
"I think that you can, to a certain extent, maybe relate to someone, but.... Actually, y'know that's bull****, I disagree. There are so many shady, famous people in LA who are so weird. I'd probabaly have a better conversation with somebody working in McDonald's [laughs] I'm being honest right now, but it's true. Don't get me wrong. there are some amazing people . Selma Blair, for instance, is a doll. Reese Witherspoon - she's amazing. But there are a lot of people in LA whose reality is stupid."

How high maintenance are you?
"Oh. I'm very wash and go. Today, I just washed my hair and put mascara on. Usually when I've been going places lately I won't even blow-dry my hair. I just go. And my nails, as you can see, are retarded and bad.

How do you see your career when you're say, in your thirties?
"My fairytale dream is to do it all. I would love to have a family. That's my main priority. And do respectable movie roles. And do amazing music and perform in front of thousands of people. And do incredible live shows. Because my music, especially my live stuff, is very showy, a lot of people don't respect it as an art."

Well, it seems a lot of people just have a problem with a sexy woman- would you agree?
"Yeah, I guess that people will say, 'Oh they're just pretty. They were just given that song. They're a puppet.'"

Does that make you angry?
"A little bit, but i think that because i'm young and soft-spoken. I'm nice to people. and they go a head and assume that. But everything I have ever done- even my movie- I helped to write it, the whole idea came from me. All my shows and all my tours and everything. They're all of me and i'm so the complete opposite [to a puppet]. It's really bizarre."

She's right. It is bizarre. it's 9pm when i say goodbye to Britney and she's going back into the studio to meet up with the neptunes; they're going to listen to what she's recorded and see if they could work on any of her new songs with her. I leave willing to bet a lot of money that an older, wiser and totally in control Britney will silence the cynics. Every last one of them.

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