MEDIA

INTERVIEWS

"Not Everyone Likes Me..." Smash Hits Magazine (Australia) April 2000
BRITNEY
Part One

SHE'S ALWAYS GOT A SMILE ON HER FACE, BUT IS BRITNEY'S LIFE ALWAYS AS PERFECT AS IT SEEMS? FIND OUT IN PART ONE OF OUR EXCLUSIVE CHAT WITH POP'S TEEN QUEEN...

So now you're 18, how does it feel?
You know, I don't feel any different. I can remember being in the ninth grade when my brother turned 18. I thought, 'Wow, he's getting older!' so when I turned 18 I thought it would be a big deal, but it isn't.

Is that because you'd had to grow up so quickly?
I think that it's inevitable to grow up quickly if you're surrounding yourself with so many adults. I'm a mature person and a lot of people say I have an old soul. But, at the same time, you've gotta stay young and not be serious all the time. I can still be goofy and really silly - it's always good to crack up and do something crazy!

Like what?
Well, for example when me and my friends were getting ready for my birthday party we put Missy Elliot on my stereo and we were making up shows and just jumping on the bed, and y'know you just can't do that with older people. (Giggles) Well, I don't!

Do you miss spending time with your old school friends then?
Oooh, yeah! They all came up from Kentwood for my birthday. I wanted celebrities to be there, not for me, but for all my friends, cos they get really excited!

So do you think you missed out on growing up like a normal teen?
I had an amazing childhood! When I was nine I was playing with my dolls and just performing on the side. Now I see kids coming into and there's nine or 10, and it's not their decision to want to be there. It really irks me to see kids coming into this business so young. It's like my little sister - all these people are calling and going, 'She could have a record deal right now' and she's eight! I'm like, 'Let here live her life!'

Do you ever worry that your success could go horribly wrong?
That is a scary though and if another pop star tells you if doesn't go through their mind, it does!

Do you still get excited about performing on TV or going to awards shows, or is all that boring now?
Y'know what, I totally understand what you're saying, because when I went to my first awards show, I was like, 'Oh my God, oh my God!' but now I feed off different challenges and different performances. Just being there and having all these people out there is the best feeling in the world.

You're always smiling, don't you ever feel like being grumpy in-front of everyone?
Well, I'm kinda like that anyway, I'm just myself. But if I'm in an airport and I don't feel like smiling, I just put my hat on and hide. But if fans come up to me I'll try and be happy!

Does it upset you when fans make wrong assumptions about you?
Yeah, there was one time when there were loads of fans in an airport all screaming at me to sign autographs. I was just trying to sort something out and I was like, 'Can you wait a second?' and they started calling me names cos I didn't do it straight away. I was like, 'Who are you to judge me? You don't even know me!' Sometimes I can be really sensitive, but I'm getting used to it. Now I think, 'Hey not everyone's gonna like me!'

Do you ever get lonely?
Oh yeah! Some nights if I'm just tired I'll cry, but I'm a goob like that! I guess girls are just moody. But the next day I'll perk up and I'll be the happiest person in the world again.

Aww! Sounds terrible...
Not really, during the day I'm really happy with my job and I really like what I do. But at night sometimes if I'm tired I'll call my mum and I'll be like, "Mum, I miss you!"

If you'd been upset before this interview, could we tell?
No. I've only been in that situation once. I had a rehearsal to do and I got a phone call from my mum who thought I'd finished work for the day, but because of the time difference she got it wrong. She told me that my aunt had found out she'd got cancer and I just lost it, I was so upset. I didn't tell my mum I had the rehearsal, but I went out there and I just couldn't do it, I just couldn't stop crying. If it gets to that point, then you just have to stop but luckily it's never got to that point!