Britney landed a spot on The New Mickey Mouse Club at age 11 and appeared on the show for 2 years. Other members of the Mickey Mouse club included a young Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera.

Before being snapped up for a record contract Britney was an accomplished gymnast, and attended classes until she was nine.

After appearing in her debut film 'Crossroads' in 2002 Britney lost out on the role of Daisy Duke in the Dukes of Hazzard to Jessica Simpson.

The singer has had a few run ins with the law; speeding and driving without a license.

After a messy divorce with ex-husband Kevin Federline, Britney lost custody of her children in 2007.

The number one single 'Baby One More Time' was filmed at Venice High School, California (Rydell High school in the Grease film)

Not one to shy away from the spotlight Britney caused controversy when she kissed Madonna in the opening number for the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. According to Britney, the kiss was Madonna's idea in rehearsals.

The singer has had a few clashes with other musicians; Eminem took a dig at Britney Spears in the song "The Real Slim Shady" and others on his albums.

The hit US show Glee dedicated a whole episode to Britney. The singer even made a number of guest appearances.

Spears' married a childhood friend, Jason Alexander, in Las Vegas in 2004, but the marriage was annulled just a few days later.

Wrote a number of books with her mother Lynne Spears.

Men went crazy for Britney Spears when she was voted the worlds sexiest women in 2004 by FHM. In 2010 she fell to number 44.

A young Spears was given a Hollywood Star in 2003, she is between Steven Speilberg and Nicole Kidman on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake performed together as children on the TV show The New Mickey Mouse Club. The pair dated for 4 years before an abrupt breakup in 2002 amid rumors of Britney's infidelity.

 Spears is recognized as the best-selling female artist of the first decade of the 21st century, as well as the fifth overall.

In her career Britney has racked up a small fortune in endorsement deals including Pepsi £4.73m, Toyota £1m, Samsung £2m, Sketchers £1m and Proactic £500k.

Britney appeared on a spoken-word CD of the Pope's prayers.

Britney Spears caused a media frenzy when she shaved her head in 2007 at Esther’s Haircutting Studio in Tarzana.

The singer may have dated Justin Timberlake but her celebrity male list does not stop there. In 2003 it was reported that the pair may have enjoyed each others company on more than one occasion.

 Britney Spear's new album 'Femme Fatale' is released on March 15. The album includes production from her long-time partners Dr. Luke and Max Martin, as well as Rodney Jerkins, Stargate, Fraser T. Smith and Bloodshy & Avant.