In the summer of 2001, the most famous woman in the world pretended to be ordinary. Britney Spears once described her character in Crossroads, her first and (so far) only film, as “the kind of girl who doesn’t make waves”. Lucy is a teenager who likes books, writing poetry and hanging with her friends. She’s in and out of confidence. To quote the song she sings triumphantly at the film’s close, she’s not a girl, but not yet a woman. Back then, Crossroads could best be described as a coming-of-age weepie. Today, 20 years after its release in February 2002, it seems so much sadder than it used to be.
Crossroads emerged at the apex of Britney’s early fame. Movies were an inevitable next step in a career that had already spawned blockbuster CD sales and whirlwind publicity, but she took her time in deciding on the perfect star vehicle. Crossroads – which was directed by Tamra Davis and written by future TV heavyweight Shonda Rhimes – felt more in keeping with Britney’s personality than much of her music. A story of three high schoolers who decide to hit the road together on a journey of self-discovery, it’s earnest and gently cheesy – perfect for a young woman who to this day calls The Notebook her favourite movie.
