"Everything the critics like, I hate," countered the 20-year-old pop princess who was scantily clad despite the nippy weather, according to Variety. 

Funny. "N Sync's Lance Bass took a similar line when addressing his big screen debut "On the Line's" inclusion on Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper's "Worst of 2001" list.

"Crossroads" opens Febuary 15th, just in time for Valentine's Day.

Britney Spears has revealed she and David Beckham are teaming up to appear in a special World Cup commercial for Pepsi.

She said she is looking forward to meeting the Manchester United star later this month.

"I think he's cute. I'm hoping he'll help me with the soccer moves for the commercial," she said.

Britney's management team says the ad will be filmed when she returns to America.

But some reports say the project is news to David Beckham. It is claimed he has denied all knowledge of the plan to team him up with Britney.

Meanwhile, it would seem that all this transatlantic travel is too much for poor Britney.

She has been losing all track of time on her whirlwind European tour and has been phoning her mum back in America at all hours - apparently she keeps forgetting about the time difference.

But Britney's mum says she does not mind because it is so nice to keep in touch with her.

The pair celebrated their investment last Thursday night with a meal at the central London venue, where White has already made changes to the menu. 

Spears is a long-term devotee of the celebrity-backed chain on both sides of the Atlantic. She rounded off her 2000 UK tour with a party at the London restaurant - the guests included Alastair Campbell, then the Prime Minister's aide, who is a self-confessed Britney fan. 

A famously frugal eater, Spears will not be involved in running the restaurants. 

Planet Hollywood has had a chequered history since the original backers, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, invested in it. 

They made a paper profit of $50 million when the chain began trading on the Nasdaq exchange in 1996. At one point, it was valued at $2 billion. The chain owned 87 outlets around the world, led by flagships in New York and London, and 28 celebrities owned 15 per cent of the company between them. 

By 1998, Planet Hollywood had reported a net loss of $200m. In October 1999 it filed for bankruptcy protection. It faced bankruptcy again last October and was saved by a $30m cash injection. 

A number of promotional contests are up and running for "Crossroads," which opens Feb. 15 in U.S. theaters. In addition to a previously announced MTV.com contest offering a private screening of the film in New Orleans, Herbal Essences will award one lucky winner and three friends admission to the film's Los Angeles premiere, plus "a day of beauty" so winners will "look their best." The contest can be entered through Herbal Essence's official Web site.

The 20-year-old American superstar said she had one regret, however -- ever talking about her virginity.

``I wish I'd never said anything about being a virgin now,'' Spears told a news conference to promote her new album and film. Asked the burning question, she said: ``that's private.''

The famously virginal singer has been hounded by the ``has she, hasn't she'' question since she boasted of wanting to stay celibate until she marries, despite her raunchy image.

The star, whose increasingly skimpy outfits have set many a pulse racing, said she planned to marry boy-band singer Justin Timberlake ``in the future'' but was too frantic on music and film projects to fit it in this year.

Sparkling in a flesh-colored, sequined mini-dress, the golden girl who has caught the eye of a string of eligible men including Britain's Prince William, said she looked forward to meeting soccer hunk Beckham later this month to film a Pepsi commercial for the World Cup.

``I think he's cute,'' said Spears in her Louisiana drawl. ''I'm hoping he'll help me with the soccer moves for the commercial.''

Spears will have more than just Beckham to assist her during filming of the new soft drink commercial. They will be joined by other top world soccer players including Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Juan Sebastian Veron.

Spears burst onto the music scene in 1999 in pigtails and a skimpy school uniform, winning fans over with her innocent sexiness, to go multi-platinum with her debut ``Baby One More Time'' and second album ``Oops! I Did It Again.''

Her latest album ``Britney'' has seen even skimpier outfits and raunchier dance moves, including writhing around with a snake on stage for her single ``I'm a Slave 4 U.'' Her overall album sales have hit a monster 45 million.

The singer has now added acting to her talents, making her film debut in Crossroads, a movie about three friends on a road trip which sees Spears' character bed an ex-con. The film, which premieres in the United States next month, has been panned by some critics but Spears was not put off.

``I would love to do more films,'' said Spears, who also has a cameo role in the next Austin Powers movie. Asked if she aspired to winning an Oscar, she said: ``At some point in the future, it would be nice to have some kind of recognition for acting.''

Despite her own acting career, Spears said she still gets upset seeing boyfriend Timberlake kiss other girls in videos for his teen band 'N Sync.

``It's not so much jealousy but the first time it happened, I ended up in the bathroom and I've decided not to watch that kind of thing now. Justin won't watch some of the sexier scenes in my film either,'' said Spears, who had fans climbing over her hotel wall in Cannes where she is performing at the NRJ music awards.

Would she give up her career for a family?

``I would like to think I could do both. But if I had to chose, I would have a family,'' Spears said. 

But in a TV interview aired yesterday, she said wedding bells will ring sometime down the road, the British Press Association reported. 

"It will happen some time in the future, but not this year," Spears reportedly said. 

Spears and Timberlake recently bought a California home for a reported $3 million. 

Spears has shot down a swirl of rumors that the hunky singer has already popped the question. 

She's also insisted she and Timberlake have a squeaky-clean time behind closed doors - although according to some reports, she was recently overheard gushing about their sex life. 

"Justin and I have great sex," Spears was overheard saying at a backstage party after a Big Apple awards ceremony, London's News of the World reported last month. 

But publicly, Spears has vowed she's going to hang onto her virginity until she's married. 

And she seems content to get her thrills from other sources, according to her public disclosures. 

The junior diva was recently quoted saying, "Chocolate for me is just like an orgasm." 

And her dance coach, Wade Robson, was quoted by the Scottish Daily Record this month saying, 

"I get to drive Britney's sexual energy into her performances - she tells me fantasies, and we interpret them." 

Lynne Spears says her daughter keeps getting her out of bed because she forgets the time difference.

Britney has been in Europe to promote her new single and forthcoming film Crossroads.

"Britney called me two nights this week from Europe," Lynne told the official Britney Spears website.

"She makes me laugh, because she always forgets the time change. Brit called at 1.50am one morning and 4am the other time. 

"She apologises for about five minutes, then we have a nice chat for about 30 minutes. It's a good thing I can go back to sleep easily! We have to check in with each other at least every other day."

The pair sang the Sonny and Cher hit, I Got You Babe, after she was interviewed for a one-off special.

Britney is more used to duetting with singing stars such as Michael Jackson but was happy to take to the stage with Skinner.

The 20-year-old, wearing a glamorous black top and pinstripe trousers, also had the audience in stitches when she joined him in a comedy sketch.

A source on the show said: "It was a great interview and Britney was fantastic. The sketch was absolutely hilarious and they closed the show with the duet."

Skinner is known for his near-the-knuckle questioning and there has been speculation on whether he would quiz Spears about her claims to still be a virgin.

The source said: "Frank did touch on the subject - but you'll have to watch the show to find out what was said."

Although Spears arrived on her two-day promotional tour with an impressive entourage and has been constantly surrounded by burly minders, she made no diva-like demands when she appeared on the show.

The source said: "She didn't ask for anything outlandish - in fact the only thing she asked for in her dressing room was water."

The Frank Skinner Show featuring Spears is on ITV1 on January 26 at 9.45pm.

2/4 (Sometime this week) - "The Oprah Winfrey Show"
2/11 - "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno"
2/14 - "The Rosie O'Donnell Show"
2/15 - "TRL" (co-hosting with Carson!)
2/18 - "Regis and Kelly"
2/22 - "The View"

"Some people will always see me as the girl in the uniform, twirling down the hallway, but they're the ones stuck in the past, not me," la Spears said and has also revealed that, when it came to recording her recently released, self-titled, third album, she wanted to make sure she took her sound a step further. However, as Britney soon discovered, it wasn't going to be easy.

"My record company wanted me to play it safe and release CD after CD of the same sort of music," Britney told Now magazine, adding, "But I resisted. Then I insisted that the music shows my growth as a person, as an artist and that I wouldn't lay down tracks that are flat and repeat my other work. The new CD has really contemporary stuff on it that's miles ahead of Baby One More Time. It's different. Sexy and adult and even provocative."

Britney was also keen to dismiss rumours that she's planning to wed boyfriend Justin Timberlake at a 'secret' ceremony on February 14th, revealing, "That rumour began because my new movie Crossroads is to open on Valentine's Day and my assistant started to plan a party for that night to celebrate. She made our inquires into space availability and the next thing we knew the papers were planning our wedding." 

However, Britney isn't being secretive about her relationship with Justin, proudly admitting that they're definitely engaged and do plan to get married in the future, although she isn't ready to get spliced just yet. "It won't be until we are both ready to make that commitment to each other and God," Britney explained, "It's not something to take lightly. I intend to marry one time and stay married until the day I die, just like the vow says." 

The 20-year-old superstar was accompanied by a huge entourage of security guards, stylists, dancers, hairdressers, make-up artists and assistants.

The Daily Mail said her entourage was so large it took five people-carriers to transport them from Heathrow airport to the five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the posh Knightsbridge area of central London.

The Mail said Britney wasted no time after her arrival to go shopping in the West End after checking into her $6,750-a-night Imperial Suite -- a two-bedroom gold-decorated apartment with views across Hyde Park.

Media reports said a pack of burly guards shadowed the star's every move as she toured the capital in a cavalcade of limousines and went for a morning stroll in Hyde Park.

Security levels at the BBC studios where the show was recorded were said to have been at unprecedented levels, but a spokeswoman for the broadcaster said details were not being disclosed.

"We wouldn't comment on security measures but she is a huge star and we will look after her accordingly," she said.

The BBC is well used to meeting the demands of pop divas. Jennifer Lopez requested at least 10 dressing rooms for herself and her entourage for an appearance at last year's Top of the Pops music awards.

Spears, whose first single ``Baby, One More Time'' propelled her to international stardom, is due to give a handful of radio interviews and film a segment for a television chat show before flying to Cannes in France for a news conference at the Midem music industry festival this weekend.

Comic Frank Skinner, who will interview Spears for his TV chat show, said he was thrilled at the prospect. "She is the hottest pop star in the world at the moment, and in more ways than one," he said in a statement.

"The big question is will she put her career on the line and do a song with me at the end of the show."

In the show, to be broadcast on BBC1 on Friday night, Spears will be seen performing her latest single. 

She also took a stroll around Hyde Park flanked by two bouncers.

The singer is staying in a £4,700 a night suite at the nearby Mandarin Oriental hotel.

Britney will record her Top Of The Pops performance tonight, to be broadcast on BBC1 tomorrow.

She will sing two versions of her song Overprotected in different costumes, and one version of her next single I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman.

She will also conduct a short interview with presenter Jamie Theakston.

According to the BBC, security for Britney has never been so tight, reports the London Evening Standard.

She will perform her new single Overprotected on the Top Of The Pops show being broadcast tomorrow.

It will be Britney's first UK television performance of 2002.

Enrique Iglesias and Pink have also flown in from the US to record future Top Of The Pops performances.

Top Of The Pops producer Chris Cowey told Ananova: "She's a huge superstar and we're delighted to have her on the show."

Other artists featured on this week's show include Nelly Furtado and So Solid Crew.

There will also be footage of the late Aaliyah with her number one single More Than A Woman.

The CD:UK special will be broadcast on Saturday.

Britney called me two nights this week from Europe. She makes me laugh, because she always forgets the time change. Brit called at 1:50 AM one morning and 4:00 AM the other time. She apologizes for about five minutes, then we have a nice chat for about thirty minutes. It's a good thing I can go back to sleep easily! We have to check in with each other at least every other day. 

Britney and Justin enjoyed the American Music Awards in L.A. Britney's performance was very different from her norm. Usually, she has so much preparation. It was nice to practice staging only the day before, then wait to perform the day of the show. Brit thought it was almost too easy. She felt like she should be doing more before the show. 

I was excited the night of the AMAs, because I also was able to see Britney's performance with Michael Jackson the same night. I missed the show at Christmas. I turned the channels back and forth trying to see both performances. I did catch the Michael Jackson performance thirty minutes later that night. 

We are all making plans to fly to New York to see Britney’s appearance on Saturday Night Live. Britney is really looking forward to doing the show. She loved it last year. She says the people are a fun group to work with. Everyone except Jamie Lynn will go. She has decided to stay home with friends. She made three "B"s on her last report card. Generally Jamie makes all "A"s. Britney was disappointed about Jamie's decision, but Jamie Lynn told her, "a girl does what she has to do." 

I'm sure Britney of all people can understand that! 

BILLBOARD 200 HISTORY: Britney
week (10) ending 01.19.02 #20
week (9) ending 01.12.02 #14
week (8) ending 01.05.02 #12
week (7) ending 12.29.01 #4
week (6) ending 12.22.01 #3
week (5) ending 12.15.01 #4
week (4) ending 12.08.01 #5
week (3) ending 12.01.01 #3
week (2) ending 11.24.01 #2
week (1) ending 11.17.01 #1 (debut)
 

BILLBOARD HOT DANCE MUSIC/CLUB PLAY: I'm A Slave 4 U
week (10) ending 01.19.02 #6
week (9) ending 01.12.02 #4
week (8) ending 01.05.02 #4
week (7) ending 12.29.01 #7
 

BILLBOARD TOP MUSIC VIDEO: Britney: The Videos
week (8) ending 01.19.02 #2
week (7) ending 01.12.02 #2
week (6) ending 01.05.02 #2
week (5) ending 12.29.01 #2
week (4) ending 12.22.01 #3
week (3) ending 12.15.01 #2
week (2) ending 12.08.01 #1
week (1) ending 12.01.01 #1(debut)
 

A dance lesson with the 'NSYNC member is one of several prizes up for auction at a charity Super Bowl party Timberlake and girlfriend Britney Spears are hosting at New York's Planet Hollywood on February 3, the day of the big game, according to an event spokesperson. 

While watching the game on big-screen televisions strewn about the restaurant, guests will be able to bid on the dance class with Justin and the opportunity for a cameo role in an upcoming Spears movie, video or commercial, as well as items from New York Yankee Derek Jeter, golfer Tiger Woods, and Madonna. 

Proceeds from the party will be donated to charities closest to the hosts: the Britney Spears Foundation, dedicated to benefiting needy children through peer relationships and participation in the performing arts, and the Justin Timberlake Foundation, whose goal is to promote music education by providing school grants.

Tickets for the party, priced at $1,000, are available by contacting the charities at (646) 437-3629.

Keeping in stride with Super Bowl XXXVI, taking place in New Orleans' Louisiana Superdome, Planet Hollywood will be decorated to look like the city's famed Bourbon Street and will serve Cajun food.

In other Spears news, the pop princess has struck a licensing agreement with Skechers, USA, which plans to issue a Britney Spears collection of "4 Wheelers" roller skates and accompanying accessories, according to a spokesperson for the footwear company. The three-year deal entitles Skechers to use Spears in advertising and marketing campaigns focused on the line. It's not known when the skates are slated to roll into stores.

Spears also endorses the brand's athletic footwear in international print ads, the result of another licensing deal with Skechers that is in place until June 2002. 

Be sure to check out this link form VH1.com, it has a lot of great stuff for Britney fans,http://www.vh1.com/insidevh1/shows/driven/britney/. A Viewer Poll, Britney Scrapbook, Britney Home Videos (Gymnastics Performance from 1990 & Pool Party from 1992), Britney Interview, and MORE! 

She says "chocolate for me is just like an orgasm."

Britney made her claim during a visit to a German chocolate museum.

The singer was presented with a huge heart-shaped white chocolate by staff at the museum in Cologne.

Britney was in Germany to promote her forthcoming film Crossroads.

Later on the Viva TV show she told viewers: "I don't feel sexy as a woman, although my new songs are sexy."

On Tuesday night she appeared as a guest on the Alfred Biolek talk show which had the theme "nobody is perfect." 

Afterwards Biolek said: "She is pretty perfect."

Britney told Biolek how close she is to her family and talked about her plans for the future, saying: "I want very much to make a career in the movies."