Britney Spears' audition tape for The Notebook has been leaked

Speaking of her short-lived acting career, in which she played lead actress in the 2002 movie Crossroads, Spears said: "The experience wasn't easy for me. My problem wasn't with anyone involved in the production but with what acting did to my mind. I think I started Method acting — only I didn't know how to break out of my character. I really became this other person. Some people do Method acting, but they're usually aware of the fact that they're doing it. But I didn't have any separation at all."

She also revealed that she auditioned for the role of Allie Hamilton, starring alongside Ryan Gosling. " "The Notebook casting came down to me and Rachel McAdams, and even though it would have been fun to reconnect with Ryan Gosling after our time on The Mickey Mouse Club, I'm glad I didn't do it. If I had, instead of working on my album In the Zone I'd have been acting like a 1940s heiress day and night."

Footage of Spears' screen test The Notebook has been released by casting director Matthew Barry who shared the footage with The Daily Mail.

Britney Spears’ audition tape for ‘The Notebook’ has been shared by the Daily Mail. https://t.co/QBFWuQXHC6

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) October 23, 2023

Speaking to The Daily Mail, Barry revealed that Spears beat Scarlett Johansson Jessica Biel, Mandy Moore, Kate Bosworth, Claire Danes and Amy Adams for the role which ultimately went to Rachel McAdams. "Britney wasn't just good – she was phenomenal. It was a tough decision. Britney blew us all away. Our jaws were on the floor. I was blown away – absolutely blown away. She brought her A-game that day," he said.

"That was pretty much the beginning and end of my acting career," Spears says, adding that it was a relief not to be cast as Allie Hamilton, because of her inability to step outside of the Method acting mindset: "I hope I never get close to that occupational hazard again. Living that way, being half yourself and half a fictional character, is messed up. After a while you don't know what's real anymore."

Britney Spears recently hit back at the media attention surrounding the released excerpts of her memoir, saying "I don’t like the headlines I am reading… that’s exactly why I quit the business four years ago!”