The Hollywood Reporter:  Dialogue - Britney Spears

Pop's baddest good girl discusses her career.

By Chris Gardner

After humble beginnings in Kentwood, La., Britney Spears has grown to
become one of the world's most famous names -- an internationally
recognized brand and a respected and diversified artist. She's
delivered three albums, a feature film, two books and several show-
stopping TV appearances -- all before the age of 21. The Hollywood
Reporter's Chris Gardner caught up with Spears in Miami 16 days
before her big birthday to talk about her reported hiatus, her
biggest accomplishments and how she's managed to keep it all
together.


The Hollywood Reporter: Let's talk a little bit about the past six
months and this hiatus you've been on. How much time have you really
had off, and what have you been up to?

Britney Spears: Really, I've honestly had like two weeks off. I've
been off, but I've still been working, too. The main thing is I've
just been going on my (own) schedule. I've been going in the studio,
I've been working, I've been dancing, but it hasn't been someone
saying, 'You have to do this at this time.' It's really been on my
own time.


THR: From what I hear, it's hard for you to sit still. You always
want to be working. Is that true?

Spears: I would go crazy if I didn't do anything. I always have to do
something. When I first got off the ("Dream Within a Dream") tour, I
was going to try and chill out for a couple of months, but there's no
way I could've done that. So after two weeks, I just started
recording and playing around. We haven't really been taking it that
seriously, but we are going to start taking it serious in January.
Mainly, I've just been having meetings with people to hear their
stuff to see if I want to work with them in January. I met up with
some really hot producers, William Orbit and Daft Punk, overseas.


THR: Do you feel any pressure right now to reinvent yourself?
Spears: No. Anyway, it's not something you should try to do -- it
should just happen naturally from the way you feel. When people
say, 'I'm going to do this,' or 'I'm going to do that' or they plan
something, that's when it doesn't really come out. Right now, I'm in
the studio just doing my thing and letting it flow. Whatever happens,
happens.


THR: Everyone around you says that you've always been in charge of
your career, even from the start. Was it hard being a brand-new
artist to assert yourself and make sure that you didn't get lost in
the process?

Spears: I'm from the South, so I'm very soft-spoken; because of that,
people think that I was told what to do, but it's the total opposite.
When I would go to the record label to do things or pick out
pictures, I would seriously get pissed off if they would scrutinize a
picture. I would be like, 'OK, this is me, and this is the one that I
want to use.' Even with the videos and my songs and stuff, it's you
singing, so you have to say what you want to make sure the world sees
the person that you are.


THR: Describe these last few years following your debut when you were
16. What has it really been like?

Spears: A complete roller coaster ride -- a whirlwind. I've had an
amazing journey, but it's been really cool lately because I've had
the time to sit back with my assistant (Felicia Culotta) and Rob
(Feggans, Spears' security guard) and talk about it all. The three of
us always travel together, and usually, we are so caught up in
everything -- we have to go here, and we have to go there. But
recently, we've had time to really reflect on what's happened these
past three years.


THR: What's been the worst part?

Spears: Being away from my family and having my personal life out
there so much. When you first become famous, it's like, 'Oh, my God,
they know who I am,' and they know all the good stuff. But when
something bad happens, you're like, 'Oh, God, they know that, too.'
It's a little bizarre.

THR: Career-wise, what has been the accomplishment that you are most
proud of?

Spears: I would probably have to say the MTV Europe Awards. That was
really cool. I went there not expecting anything. I worked really,
really hard on my performance, and it was amazing -- people were
freaking out. It was one of my best performances, but I wasn't
expecting any awards; then I won a few.


THR: What about personally?

Spears: Just growing up and being a good person, honestly.


THR: So, you're just two weeks away from your 21st birthday. Do you
feel like a lot will change now that you're officially going to be
an "adult"?

Spears: Yes, definitely. People aren't going to be able to say
anything they want about me anymore. I'll be 21, and they won't be
able to talk about me drinking or anything.


THR: What can the public expect from you, 21 years old and beyond?
Spears: There's no telling.