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60 SECONDS: Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul started out as choreographer for the LA Lakers' cheerleaders, before becoming a popstar in the 1980s with hits such as Straight Up and Opposites Attract. She is best known for judging American Idol with Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. Paula is the guest star on tonight's Friday Night Project on Channel 4 and is currently filming her reality show, Hey Paula.
You’re brave coming to Britain with all the terror scares going on. Were you worried?
I was a little bit worried, I’m not going to lie, but there’s an immense amount of security over here. When there’s something traumatic going on like this, you want to go where there’s a lot of security.
You’ve got a perfume coming out. What does Paula Abdul smell like?
I smell pretty good most days. My dogs like it, my family likes it and even Simon Cowell likes it. You’ll all be smelling very sexy in a few months.
Why are you doing the reality show?
People see me on American Idol and I don’t think they understand what else happens in my life. I decided to do the reality show at the same time we were launching the sixth season of American Idol, my jewellery line and my perfume – it was everything at once, so I thought it would be good to show people what it’s like to have that kind of lifestyle where you’re doing four different projects at once and how difficult it is. I had no sleep. By the fourth episode, I couldn’t even keep track of the planes I was getting on. It sheds a little light on how difficult it is to sustain a career in this business. For however many hills you have to climb, there is some even ground. It’s a lot of work.
Was it a nuisance having camera people follow you around?
Not at all. I loved having cameras over my toilet at 7am.
What are the most common misconceptions of you?
I want everyone to know I’m not as short as I look on TV. People are intimidated by the way I tower underneath them. I’m not a pushover, though. I stand up for what I believe.
I couldn’t be with Simon Cowell. He’d be a selfish lover – he’d wear his condoms ribbed on the inside
Do you regret being so emotional on American Idol?
Not at all. That’s what I take to the bank. If I didn’t show my emotions and wasn’t there to support the contestants, it would be a one-sided and mean-spirited show. When we tour the cities on the audition rounds, we all get sick and it’s interesting when I’m ill because my phone rings every half hour from the producers – they say they’ll shoot me up with intravenous tea because they can’t work with Simon alone. That’s great because it shows we’ve all got distinct personalities and it’s the perfect chemistry.
Is there any sexual chemistry between you and Simon?
Oh God. He’s like a brother, so it would be some scary incest. The thought is terrible. I couldn’t be with him. He’d be a selfish lover – he’d wear his condoms ribbed on the inside.
The Spice Girls are back together. Would you try to resurrect your own pop career?
It would be fun to do a show with them – awesome. I’ve got a single coming out. I’m doing a greatest hits package with a new single attached; it’s a dancey kind of thing.
Did you really trip over your chihuahua and break your nose?
No, but I tripped over her and tore some cartilage in my nose. I was going to the bathroom in the middle of the night and tripped over my chubby chihuahua, Tulip. I landed on my face and hit my nose and dislocated my hip. It was a lot of craziness over a chihuahua. I have four but she’s the cutest one and snores really loud.
There are various rumours on the Internet saying you’ve got pill and booze problems. What do you make of that?
I’ve never been drunk in my life. I don’t do that. I live a very square life. I’m just fun and people don’t understand my sense of humour. It all came from Simon’s quips on TV where he joked around about there being something in my Coca-Cola cup. He’s publicly apologised – it was a joke he started and it’s been over the press since. It’s frustrating because it creates the totally wrong perception of me. I’m an advocate against drugs and alcohol.
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