Britney Spears book: star's regret over turning down 'villain' role in Chicago film

Britney Spears was offered a role in the hit musical film Chicago, it has been revealed.

The iconic pop star - who has released her highly-anticipated memoir The Woman In Me - turned down the chance to play a "villain" in the hit 2002 movie. Spears did not name the character she was offered, but has admited she regrets at spurring the opportunity.

Britney had previously played the lead role in the film Crossroads and in her book she delves into the impact that experience had on her. She describes how during the making of the movie she thinks she "started Method acting" and was unable to switch her character off outside of set.

During this period, Spears also came close to a role in The Notebook with Ryan Gosling but was "relieved" when the part went to Rachel McAdams instead. The Woman In Me charts Britney Spears journey through childhood, her career and her time under the controversial conservatorship - which finally ended in 2021.

One of the major revelations of the book - aside from her previously undisclosed abortion - is that she was approached to star in Chicago. She writes: "Executives involved in the production came to a venue where I was performing and asked if I wanted to do it. I'd turned down three or four movies, because I was in my moment with the stage show (The Dream Within a Dream tour).

"I didn't want to be distracted from music. I was happy doing what I was doing."

Looking back on her decision to turn down the role, Spears adds: "... I should have done it. I had power back then; I wish I'd used it more thoughtfully, been more rebellious.

"... I probably could have found ways, gotten training, to keep from becoming a Chicago character the way I had with Lucy in Crossroads."

Spears does not explicitly name the character she was offered in the movie, but teases: "I would have fotten to play a villain who kills a man, and sings and dances while doing it, too."