It’s been a decade since Britney Spears suffered a very public meltdown – and the pop superstar has finally opened up about her very public fall from grace.
ICYMI, back in 2007 the troubled star spiralled out of control and shaved her head days before attacking a photographer’s car.
Her turmoil resulted in hospitalisation and her father Jamie Spears becoming her conservator.
Ten years on and the 35-year-old is addressing those difficult years. Ahead of a performance in Tel Aviv, she spoke with Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot* about how she copes with fame.
Britney reflects on the “awful” time she had during her twenties after being thrust in the spotlight in 1998 following the release of Baby One More Time.
“I think I had fun when I was younger. I was a pretty normal girl, a tomboy. But my twenties were awful.” she revealed.
“From an early age I always felt that everyone was testing me. If [something] was not in place, it would have been enough to get me to this point of anxiety.”
In fact, those darker times made her re-think how she approached her career.
“I think I had to give myself more breaks through my career and take responsibility for my mental health,” she said.
Britney became a household name thanks to her smash hit, Baby One More Time.
What’s more, when asked about the time she was photographed in 2006 driving with her then-infant-son Sean Preston, now 11, on her lap, she said, “Those were the toughest years.”
Despite being one of the biggest pop stars in the world, Brit says she struggled to navigate her twenties.
“My life was controlled by too many people and that doesn’t really let you be yourself,” she explained.
“In that situation, when you’re not in control, you become less excited, and there’s less passion when it comes to music. I wrote back then that I was lost and didn’t know what to do with myself.”
“I was trying to please everyone around me because that’s who I am deep inside. There are moments where I look back and think: ‘What the hell was I thinking?’”
One such moment was her infamous snake dance at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards. She said the experience was “scary” and “stupid” and she wouldn’t do it again.
But fast forward 10 years and Britney is doing great.
“Today I’m at a better place in my life. My kids shaped my personality and filled me. They made me not worry about what was happening to me.”
Aww, we just want to give her a big hug!
If you’re struggling and need someone to talk to, contact Lifeline (lifeline.org.au) on 1311 14 or visit Headspace at (headspace.org.au). Visit Beyond Blue at (beyondblue.org.au) or call 1300 22 4636. You can also contact the Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800.
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