worldpop: The whole pop star to movie star thing has seen some casualties.
How do you think you'll fare?
Mariah: I'm not looking at this as [cue Austin Powers voice] 'Yeah, make me
a movie star, baby', I'm looking at this as I love and enjoy acting because
it's been like therapy to me and because prior to my studying acting I
wasn't dealing with my emotions. Regardless of whatever happens or what
anyone says, acting is therapy for me and it's brought me to another place.
It's brought me to this place where I'm feeling strong, confident and happy.
worldpop: Have you always acted?
Mariah: I acted as a little girl, I used to be in different theatre
workshops and I was always in plays. When I resumed, it became a serious,
intense thing for me in terms of studying four times a week. It helped me a
lot.
worldpop: What's the film you're in all about?
Mariah: It's called All That Glitters and I play a character called Billie.
She's in a girl group in the '80s and she's the tomboy of the group. It's
about her relationship with a DJ. I've been working on the soundtrack, and
I'm writing maybe more than six songs for the soundtrack and performing,
it's going to be basically me, but I've got some guests that are going to be
included … it's music of the '80s, so it's going to be cool. We're supposed
to start shooting in May. They pushed it back from January, that's why I am
able to go on my world tour.
worldpop: We hear one of the guests for the soundtrack is Prince. True?
Mariah: Well, we met briefly and he played me some things and we worked back
and forth with each other. It was an amazing experience and I hope it works
out. I never like to say what's going to be until it's done and in the
store, but that was an experience I'll never forget. I think he's a genius.
worldpop: What do you make of the new generation of singers such as Britney
and Christina Aguilera?
Mariah: I really don't listen to pop music very much. I hate to say it, but
I don't.
worldpop: Who do you listen to?
Mariah: I listen to hip-hop mostly or R&B, I like Brandy and Aaliyah a lot.
If I'm in a different mood I'll listen to Stevie Wonder, Prince, stuff like
that or whatever rap record I'm feeling at the moment.
worldpop: There always seems to be a rivalry between you and somebody - you
and Whitney, you and Jennifer Lopez. Are there actually any rivalries?
Mariah: You get a bit of flack from women because you're always very sexily,
skimpily dressed … You know what? I got a bit of flack in the beginning
because I was always very boringly dressed, is that a word. Now I'm being
myself and if that's what I choose to do, that's what I choose to do. I
think people, especially women, instead of being catty, a better approach
might be to celebrate women's freedom to do what they want.
worldpop: Is this is the new spirit of Mariah?
Mariah: I'm still the same person I was. I'm just allowed to be myself now.
I'd say I'm a more emotionally well-rounded human being because I'm allowed
to express myself more freely and I allow myself to be happy as opposed to
pretending everything was OK because I was scared not to.
worldpop: Seeing as it's a leap year, on the 29 February you're entitled to
ask a man to marry you. Think you'll be using that privilege?
Mariah: I don't know and neither do you!
worldpop: So ,how is your boyfriend, Luis Miguel?
Mariah: He's a beautiful person. I'm not going to give away too many
secrets. I don't want to give anybody anything to misquote, so I'm just
going to say he's a beautiful person.
worldpop: No rings on significant fingers, then?
Mariah: I have on some nice shoes.