There are 288 exact pages of Britney Spears’ memoir, published on Tuesday in the United States (The Woman in Me, Gallery Books) and on Thursday in Spanish-speaking countries (La mujer que soy, Plaza y Janés). And five hours and 31 minutes is the exact length of the audiobook. While the revelations about his father, his former partners, his career, his children… remained black and white in the millions of books sold this week, they were also captured in his audiobook. But surprisingly, the 41-year-old artist’s familiar voice is only present in the dedication (“To my boys, who are the love of my life”) and in the 163 words of the prologue. A total of one minute and 25 seconds. He leaves the rest to the voice of actress Michelle Williams. She, wanting to regain her own voice, agreed to hand it over to the interpreter, who accepted the assignment in two very intelligent steps on both sides.
The actress, a five-time Oscar nominee (and never a winner), received widespread applause when it was announced, but this week her story became a hit on the Internet and an unexpected step forward in her own career. Williams. “He deserves another nomination,” can be heard online. The interpreter manages to give Spears’ words a wrapping and strength that they probably wouldn’t have had in her own voice.
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It was too painful. It was too difficult for Spears to sit down, go over her story, write it down, and once it was in the right order, have to tell it again in words. She says it herself right at the beginning: “This book was a labor of love and brought with it a lot of emotions,” she says. “Reexperiencing everything you are about to hear was exhilarating, heartbreaking and emotional, to say the least. For these reasons, I will only read a small portion of my audiobook. I’m so grateful to the incredible Michelle Williams for reading the rest and to you for listening to it.” The only words Williams said were four: “I’m with Britney.”
Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake at the 2001 American Music Awards.Getty Images
The agreement between Spears and Williams has not been made public. If the first chose the second, if it was an editorial decision that was readily accepted by both sides, if it was one-sided. It is also unknown how much Williams’ scholarship is. Narrators typically have a fixed income from the audiobook and no royalties or copyrights from sales. It is not known how much the interpreter earned, but the American press says that Spears earned between 12 and 15 million dollars for the advance, and a very generous 25% for each book (in the industry 10% is already good) . Figure).
Aside from the revenue the autobiography brought in for Williams, it gave his career a new perspective. Firstly, because his character adds spice to Spears’ story, as it is narrated by an authorized acting voice. Secondly, for his public and clear support of a star who is not having his best moments when it comes to criticism: he has not released any music for years with no appeal in sight and whose only appearances are a series of disturbing videos and texts on social networks. Thirdly, because his narration is brilliant. She delicately and forcefully recounts Spears’ grievances, with anecdotes such as how Madonna became her mentor and how her father forbade her to eat hamburgers – only chicken and canned vegetables – for which she asked the butler to cover. But also her forced abortion by Justin Timberlake and how he left her via text message, the sadness of her postpartum depression and even the restlessness of her regained freedom. Her great interpretation of Timberlake in an episode in which Spears remembers imitating rapper Ginuwine, which she saves more than worthy, earns her applause and a Grammy nomination for best narrator.
Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams on the red carpet of “Brokeback Mountain” in Toronto, Canada, September 10, 2005. Donald Weber (Getty Images)
And fourth, because Spears and Williams’ lives aren’t that different. They simply decided or were able to manage them differently. Williams, 15 months older than Spears, was also a minor child star, but instead of launching her career like the Mickey Mouse Club singer, she did so in episodes of Baywatch or Lassie, and of course, in the teen soap opera Dawson Grows, and later developed a successful career thanks to his appearances in Brokeback Mountain, My Week with Marilyn and Manchester by the Sea. She has been married twice and has three children. Her relationships and children have also brought her into the spotlight. Matilda, her eldest daughter, who turns of age this Saturday, was born from her relationship with her fiancé, the late Heath Ledger, from whom she separated just four months before her death. For just one year, between 2018 and 2019, she was married to musician Phil Everum and in 2020 she married her current husband, director Thomas Kail, with whom she has two children, Hart, three years old, and an eleven-month-old son . old baby. .
Heath Ledger died in January 2008. That same month, Spears was hospitalized for her first known mental health issues, which led to her being taken into custody by her father. 15 years ago, the two stars came under scrutiny for their pain. Williams managed to get out slowly and with the cameras watching her, but from the side. Spears is starting now, always in the spotlight. Even now, when he wants to summon his demons and completely leave his old life behind and regain his voice. In the meantime, Williams will lend him his own.