A multitasking megastar, Spears was neither the best looking nor most talented of the crop of teen pop artists unleashed on MTV in the late '90s. Yet she bested her competitors with her knack for staying the center of attention and changing her image as often as she changed her outfits. While her catchy singles and sexy videos (which had a barely legal appeal) initially made her a household name, Spears quickly added acting to her résumé as the star of the tepid 2002 coming-of-age flick
Crossroads. Busy as she was, the bubbly blonde found the time to open a restaurant, launch a fragrance, write books (with assistance) and carry on a much-scrutinized love life: a long-term romance with 'N Sync front man (and fellow
Mickey Mouse Club costar) Justin Timberlake; rumored dalliances with Colin Farrell and Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst; an annulled, two-day Las Vegas marriage to a childhood friend in 2004; and finally, her "real" marriage later that year to dancer and aspiring rap star Kevin "K-Fed" Federline (whose second child with actress Shar Jackson was born less than two months before the nuptials). As the '00s wore on, Spears seemed more famous for her personal than her professional life, although she picked up her first Grammy for the song "Toxic" in 2004. But with a little-watched 2005 reality show (
Britney and Kevin: Chaotic), two babies, questionable parenting skills, a pending divorce and no showbiz projects on the horizon, Britney-mania seemed to be subsiding. In February 2007, after months of nonstop, often pantyless partying, Spears seemed to completely lose her mind. Within one drama-filled week, she shaved her head, got two tattoos, and checked in and out of rehab
twice. It seemed her lifestyle had become completely "Toxic."
Britney Spears Fast Facts:
- Auditioned in 1990 at age 8 for The Mickey Mouse Club but was turned down due to being too young.
- Played a murderous child in the campy off-Broadway musical Ruthless! in 1991.
- Competed on Star Search in 1992 and won (but was defeated the second week).
- Appeared alongside Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera on The Mickey Mouse Club after finally joining the cast in 1993.
- Guest-starred on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch in 1999 and The Simpsons the following year.
- Shared a headline-making kiss with Madonna at the 2003 MTV Music Video Awards.
- Gave birth to her second child in September, 2006.
- Filed for divorce from Kevin Federline in November, 2006.
- Britney Spears Relationships:
- Bryan Spears - Brother
- Jamie Lynn Spears - Sister
- Jamie Spears - Father
- Jason Allen Alexander - Ex-husband
- Jayden James Federline - Son
- Justin Timberlake - Ex-significant Other
- Kevin Federline - Ex-husband
- Lynne Spears - Mother
- Maddie Briann Aldridge - Niece
- Sean Preston Federline - Son
- Britney Spears Awards:
- 2004 Grammy: Best Dance Recording - Winner
