(6 of 10)
AMBITION. I am ambitious, but if I weren't as talented as I am ambitious, I would be a gross monstrosity. I am not surprised by my success because it feels natural. When I was younger I never said, "O.K., this is the plan. I'm going to be a dancer and that's going to lead to singing and that's going to lead to acting." My calculation was that I knew I had to apply myself and work. And that devotion -- and that ambition and that courage -- was going to take me to the next step. So, that's my calculation.
I don't see music and movies as being unrelated. I think when you are singing & a song, you are making yourself very vulnerable. It's almost like crying in front of people. Acting is about that too -- communicating and being honest and just projecting a feeling. It's just a different way of doing it. I also love making videos. They're like little movies. After I made my first video, it was just so great I wanted to make a movie. The next thing I want to do is make a really, really big movie, but nothing is definite. I see myself directing eventually.
I will make more albums. I love performing, but the rock-star life on the road is a grueling thing for me. At the moment, with the music and Desperately Seeking Susan, I think I'm affecting people in the same way either way. My personality is getting across. I really see myself as a comedian. In 20 years I know that I will be an actress. I aspire to be a great actress.
IMAGE. My image to people, I think, is that I'm this brazen, aggressive young woman who has an O.K. voice with some pretty exciting songs, who wears what she wants to wear and says what she wants to say and who has potential as an actress. Sex symbol? That is such a weird question. I guess I would be perceived as that because I have a typically voluptuous body and because the way I dress accents my femininity, and because a lot of what I am about is just expressing sexual desire and not really caring what people think about it. Maybe that would make you a sex symbol, I don't know. There is a very modest side to me too. How far away is the image from me? It's about 20 steps away.
PHENOMENON. I'm not really sure what is going on. My fans come from a wide age range. I think it goes beyond sexuality. Maybe my fearlessness and courage give people a good feeling. I think I have a real sweetness inside and love for life and a good sense of humor. Maybe people see that. I think a lot of people are afraid to express themselves that way, so maybe they feel they can attach themselves to an innocence and joy. I believe that dreams come true: that you can do what you want to do. I don't mean that in a Rocky III kind of way either. I don't mean you have to go out and conquer the world and be a star. I mean, I came from a boring sort of middle-class life-style and a big family and I wasn't born with a perfect body.