Entrevista en el Daily Record de Reino Unido

Singing is Easy… It’s The Swinging I Need To Work On
20 de Junio, 2007

HE’S played to 140 million people at the Super Bowl but Justin Timberlake shakes like a leaf if he has to play golf for a small crowd. That was something the SexyBack singer discovered a few weeks ago when he was greeted by fans as he tried out the cream of Scotland’s courses in St Andrews, Carnoustie, Muirfield and Loch Lomond. The 26-year-old laughed: «I can play my music for millions of people but I can’t hit a golf ball in front of 20. I’ll be shaking I’mso nervous».

Justin giggles. He’s on good form today. Even with his Tennessee drawl, Justin fizzles with energy as he lounges on a sofa in plush London hotel The Dorchester.

Now one of the biggest stars of the pop stage and big screen, he is here to talk about voicing the role of Artie in new movie Shrek The Third. And, clearly, he is enjoying this break from his European tour. He has another five nights to play at London’s O2Arena from July 4 before hitting America.

So Justin is delighted to reminisce about switching off on golf courses – especially those in Scotland. He headed to them in April and May around his three sell-out gigs at Glasgow’s SECC. Playing off a six handicap, he revealed: «In my mind I ama pro sportsman. I love golf and I really enjoyed Carnoustie». Although his stepdad, Paul, is a big golfer, Justin only got into the sport five years ago while on tour.

Tired after months in SUVs, planes and tour buses, he explained: «Golf gets you away from everything. You are just out there hitting a ball. «I’ma pretty active person. It’s one of those things I can do that is active and outside».

So what of the talk his mum, Lynn Harless, is looking for a home around St Andrews’ Old Course? «Maybe», he smiled…which isn’t a no, girls.

And he laughed off rumours he was banned from the restaurant at exclusive Muirfield because he wasn’t wearing a jacket and tie.Justin said: «After we finished playing they asked if we wanted to stay but we didn’t know there was a place to eat so I didn’t come equipped or clothed to eat. «I didn’t want to cause a problem but I wasn’t banned».

This all-American boy seems to love all things British – his latest love is football. He gushed that Manchester United star Ronaldo is «pretty awesome» and promised to check out David Beckham when he starts playing for LA Galaxy.

Perhaps it is all just a sign that the busiest man in showbiz – who has Shrek out next Friday and his new single LoveStoned out on July 2 – needs some more play time. He has certainly earned his place at No34 in The Forbes Celebrity 100 list. Justin said: «I don’t have a five-day week, I have a seven-day week. Doing these interviews for Shrek is nice as it breaks up the monotony of touring. Also, this has a cast who can share some of the weight».

This latest tale about the Scots ogre, voiced by Mike Myers, sees Sherk become king of Far Far Away. Unwilling to take up the post, he finds the next rightful heir, Justin’s character, Artie. The bullied nerd role seems far removed from the star’s real-life epitome of cool. Yet Justin revealed Artie is closer to his own childhood than you’d think. Growing up in Millington, near Memphis, he was picked on because he liked singing and dancing.

Not surprisingly, he was happy to escape to US television show The Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future girlfriend Britney Spears, future tourmate Christina Aguilera and future *NSYNC bandmate JC Chasez. Justin said: «I didn’t enjoy school. I was a good student but I was one of the weirdos and outcasts because I could sing and dance. But I also liked basketball, so that kind of made up some of the common ground for the jocks in school».

SO does this rich, successful and handsome star have any message for those who bullied him? «Yeah, ‘Eat it’ and ‘Nah nah nah-nahnah’,» he joked. Justin’s whirlwind childhood set him firmly on the road to success.

From *NSYNC, he went solo, releasing smash albums Justified in 2002 and FutureSex/LoveSounds in 2006. Hits included Like I Love You, Cry Me A River, SexyBack, What Goes Around…Comes Around and No1 collaborations Where Is The Love? with The Black Eyed Peas and Give It To Me with Timbaland and Nelly Furtado.

But he admitted: «The only thing I regret is not doing a backpacking trip through Europe or around the world. My backpacking trip is in SUVs and tour buses and planes».

Now Justin has broken into acting, with roles in Alpha Dog, Black Snake Moan and Eddison being met with critical success. But he admits it is Shrek that has won him the most kudos from pals. Justin said: «My friends couldn’t care less about all the other stuff but with Shrek they are just like, ‘Wow, you’re in Shrek. No matter what else I do, I’ll always get some respect from my friends for that».

Press work for the film also seems to have helped calm reportedly troubled waters with his ex-girlfriend, actress Cameron Diaz, who voices Shrek’s wife Princess Fiona. Their relationship was said to be have been tense since their split at the start of the year – especially after Justin began dating actress Jessica Biel. But the pair were spotted laughing and passing notes at recent screenings.

With his personal life settled, Justin is back to concentrating on work. He is looking forward to throwing himself into more acting next year, revealing: «I like letting the control go on a film, especially with a director you trust. In music I am 100 percent in control but in film I feel like a footballer and just have to ask, ‘What position do you want me to play? Good, I’m in’.»

But before then, he is continuing a new-found collaboration with queen of pop Madonna. The exiting pairing has already produced five songs – a couple of R’n’B numbers and a couple of dance records. Justin said: «Some of the dance stuff hasn’t the in-your-face energy of Hung Up but it’s got this mellow R’n’B thing on top of dance accompaniment which Timbaland is doing the beats for. «It’s all still in demo phases and I don’t know if it’ll be an album but four or five songs will make really good records.

And with that, the interview is over. Justin grins and says he’s looking forward to coming back to Scotland to play golf … if he can find the time. Shrek The Third is out next Friday, June 29. LoveStoned is out a week on Monday, July 2.