Ok Magazine: Making Lists & Checking Them Twice

Thanks to Helena for typing this up.

What's the first question you would ask Justin Timberlake, if you met him? For most people, it would be about his love life - either his current squeeze Cameron Diaz or previous girlfriend Britney Spears. But there's a lot more to this talented chap than his bedroom!

Since getting together with Cameron, 33, Justin, 25, has taken time out from his successful singing career to concentrate on acting and has starred in no less than six films. But now, four years after the release of his debut album Justified, the one-timed curly-haired *NSYNC singer is back with his much-anticipated second solo album, FutureSex/LoveSounds, most of which he wrote himself.

As well as catching the acting bug during his absense from the charts, Justin has also been sticking his fingers in other pies and has set up his own clothing line and become involved, along with Cameron, with the Jungle Heart Foundation to provide villages in Third World countries with water. Here he talks exclusively about his charity work, his 'children' and those constant marriage rumours...

So, Justin, how do you manage to find time to follow your career when the tabloids keep reporting you're planning a wedding to Cameron?
You're right, it is a full time job! To make lists, to choose a secret place and the subterfuge to forward the guests without the press getting involved, to settle the orders with the caterers. It is tiring in the end! When we decide, I will be sure to invite you, alright?

You recently found time to go to Tanzania with Cameron to do some charity work. How was that?
We arrived in this village and people were celebrating. We weren't sure why they were celebrating. First we thought they might have recognised us, but we were humbled to find out they hadn't a clue who we were. They were celebrating because they finally had a well with drinking water. See, there are still some places where being famous doesn't mean anything! It was a really humbling experience. This autumn (fall) I'm going to set up a concert in Los Angeles to raise funds for the cause.

How do you cope with all the attention focused on you everyday?
Thanks to my family, I can survive. That's what means most to me.

You were in Paris recently and brought your mother along...
Yes. She came to Paris and did some shopping, in fact. She's very professional!

She must be so proud to see her son become so famous, have a beautiful girlfriend and become a very rich man...
Yes, but that's not as important to her as being in Paris and shopping! Listen, I grew up in a middle class city and I haven't lost focus on my life. I'm really more or less the same person and have kept my life grounded. I haven't lost my perspective.

So could you have forgotten where you came from?
Sure, that's true. The world is full of people who forget, but my family wouldn't have allowed it. My mother is so real. She's unimpressed with the fame thing - especially when she's shopping! Get out of her way!

Your new album FutureSex/LoveSounds, is out next month. What song on the album are you most proud of?
What goes around. I believe it's the most delicately written song. The words, the melody... I spent a lot of time on that one. But I love them all. You can only love your little children and all my songs are my kids and you can't hate your kids!

Do you think you're more sexually provocative on this album?
You'll have to listen for yourself and find out. What do you think?

Well, your new single SexyBack has the line: You see these shackles baby, I'm your slave. I'll let you whip me if I misbehave'...
Okay, of course I'm more sexually provocative on this record!

You don't sing all the songs with your very high falsetto voice. Did you do that to avoid being pigeonholed?
No. I did it more because I wanted to experiment with new things. In "My Love," which will be the second single, I sing with a low voice.

You've taken time away from music to star in films. You must really want to make it as an actor too...
It's not exactly my goal. I want to do the things that inspire me and let me try new things. I did so many shows on tour, sang infront of so many people, that I felt like doing something else. Something more intimate. Being an actor gave me a chance to explore a different side to my character and to play other people, personalities.

There are no comedies in the six films you've done. Why?
Because I don't want to sound false. I don't want to choose something just because I was able to do it. I want to be really inspired. And with these six films, each role inspired me.

Which was the hardest part you had to play?
Ronnie in Black Snake Moan, no question about it. It's the character who expresses his innermost feelings. Thanks to him I learned I was capable of crying. I never had to cry on screen before. You have to feel what the character is feeling and let his feelings overwhelm you. And it did.

Would you say that the parts you played in these films changed you?
I would say that these roles helped me write this album. Today, I play a character in most of my songs. It's not autobiographical. In each song I'm the main character of an elaborate story told through each song. They're like mini-movies.

In many of the songs you talk about sex. Are your words referring to personal sexual experiences?
Not always, fortunately! Can you imagine if every one of these songs was really about me? No way! I'm playing characters. That allows me to exaggerate. And you know what that's about!

You've also got your own fashion line - how did that come about?
It's jeans for men and women, and also shirts. I said I'd do it because my best friend liked it. I'm not part of the whole process, only half of it. But he wanted it so badly, so I said okay! He told me he would deal with everything, but that we could both create the line itself and what he has achieved is unbelievable. I've become a businessman since the last record. But I'm still an artist in my soul. And that, to me, is most important.

You seem to be getting cooler as you get older...
I'm lucky I love my life. But I never take anything for granted. I always try and remain humble.

You will always remain little Justin from Tennesssee, then...
Exactly! You think of that [his charity work] and you realise that half of humankind survives and are happy to be alive. After an experience like that, I feel like I can't complain about anything. I'm happy. And now I'll be even happier every time I know that I've raised enough money to provide an African village with drinking water. That to me is a really great accomplishment.

You've recently been back on stage to promote your new album...
Just for small acoustic concerts. Later, we're thinking about a big world tour, like the last one. This is going to be wild!