Life’s a circus, but she’s in a cage
Britney Spears is craving more freedom, and less of the “control” that’s stabilized her personal life and reinvigorated her career.
In a new behind-the-scenes documentary, the 26-year-old pop star says: “If I wasn’t under the restraints that I’m under right now, with all the lawyers and doctors and people analyzing me every day and all that kind of stuff … I’d feel so liberated and feel like myself.”
The 90-minute film, “Britney: For the Record,” airs tonight at 10 on MTV (cable channel 63 in Spokane, 43 in Coeur d’Alene).
Spears is shown backstage at the MTV Video Music Awards; recording her new album, “Circus”; dodging the paparazzi; and goofing off with her father, Jamie, who controls her personal and financial affairs.
Still, a teary Spears says: “There’s no excitement, there’s no passion, there’s no nothing. It’s just like ‘Groundhog Day’ every day, you know? So I’m really bored.”
Spears says she “used to be a cool chick,” but the paparazzi has made it impossible for her to be out and about.
In the documentary, which was executive produced by manager Larry Rudolph, her security staff discusses hiring a decoy to fool the cameras.
Spears’ turnaround kicked into high gear in September when she nabbed three VMAS, including video of the year. She has a hit song, “Womanizer,” and releases “Circus” on Tuesday.
She talks about her two-year downward spiral, which included a divorce, a custody battle, public meltdowns and a sluggish performance at last year’s VMAs.
“I’ve been through a lot this year – well, actually the past two or three years,” she says. “And my trust has really been battered.
“I’ve definitely grown up – big time. And I’m very weary of a lot of things. Very protective of myself.”
Spears also dishes on ex-husband Kevin Federline and ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake.
“With Justin, he was a part of the magnitude of what I’d become,” says Spears, who ended their three-year relationship in 2002. “So then when he was gone, I was like, ‘What am I supposed to do with myself?’ ”
While she was devastated over her breakup with Timberlake, she says she handled that better than her separation from Federline in 2006.
“With Kevin, because I had two children with him, I did not know what to do with myself,” Spears says. “I had built my dream home in Malibu, a huge house and a pool and a huge yard for the kids and I did everything for them.”
She says their marriage disintegrated when Federline began concentrating on his rap career.
When it ended, she says, “I felt so alone. I didn’t really want to think about the reality of it. … I never really faced it, and I just ran.”
The birthday bunch
Actor Efrem Zimbalist Jr. is 91. TV personality Dick Clark is 79. Director Ridley Scott is 71. Singer-actor Mandy Patinkin is 56. Singer Billy Idol is 53. Actor-director Ben Stiller is 43. Actress Sandra Oh (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 38. Country singer Mindy McCready is 33. Singer Clay Aiken is 30. Actress Elisha Cuthbert (“24”) is 26. Actress Kaley Cuoco (“The Big Bang Theory”) is 23.