‘Crossroads’ came out 20 years ago. Check out how far Britney Spears and the rest of the movie’s stars have come since 2002.
1 of 8‘Crossroads’ Cast Then & Now: Britney Spears & More
It’s been 20 years since ‘Crossroads’ came out and since the movie has found a special place in the heart of Britney Spears fans. The coming-of-age road trip tale stars Brit, who along with pals Kit (Zoe Saldana) and Mimi (Taryn Manning), hits the highway to find herself. The movie, which was written by ‘Scandal’ genius Shonda Rimes, didn’t fare well with critics but made an impressive mark at the box office due, earning $61million worldwide. Since, it’s become a cult classic with Britney fans.
Since the movie’s 2002 release, the stars have gone in many directions. Pop queen Britney’s musical career would continue to soar but she never appeared in a feature film again. (She has, however, enjoyed TV cameos on ‘Jane The Virgin’ and ‘How I Met Your Mother’.) The multi-platinum artist would go nearly non-stop recording and touring for the next decade-plus until 2018, after which reports of the star’s controlling conservatorship arrangement began to emerge. Under the conservatorship, Britney’s father and business manager were given authority to make personal decisions for the star controlling nearly all aspects of her life. After a public struggle with her father and countless pleas from the public, Britney’s conservatorship was terminated in Sep. 2021.
‘Crossroads’ leading lady Britney Spears is seen in the film and during the premiere of ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’ on right.
Want to see more of the stars of ‘Crossroads’? Click through the gallery to see everyone.
Jamie Lynn Spears
Sister act! Britney Spears’ little sister Jamie Lynn Spears played a younger version of her character Lucy in the movie. Jamie Lynn went on to have her own Nickelodeon series Zoey 101 in 2005, but the show went off the air after she became pregnant at 16 years old. A serious rift between Jamie Lynn and Britney was revealed in the wake of the ‘Toxic’ singer’s conservatorship ending, with big sister Brit calling her sibling out for taking advantage of her. Jamie Lynn has told her side of the story in her 2021 memoirs, ‘Things I Should Have Said’.
Anson Mount
Anson Mount played Britney’s love interest Ben in ‘Crossroads’. Since, he’s appeared in the AMC drama ‘Hell On Wheels’, Marvel’s ‘Inhumans’ and on ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ as Captain Christopher Pike.
Zoe Saldana
Zoe Saldana played Kit, the popular contrast to Britney’s bookish Lucy. Zoe looked back on ‘Crossroads’ with ‘E! News’ in Feb. 2022, saying, “I was just so excited to be doing a movie like that about three friends. I’m one of three sisters and we are best friends. Anything to do with female bonding, sisterhood…I’m consumed by emotion immediately. I get it. It’s easy for me. I yearn for it. I’m always looking for it.”
She only had great things to say about Britney, telling E!, “I was working with Britney Spears when Britney was the biggest thing at that time. And she was always just a sweet and kind person. She still is. I just have a feeling that she still is. I’m proud of her for stepping up for herself. It’s amazing.”
Taryn Manning
Taryn Manning played Mimi, a high-school outcast dealing with a teen pregnancy. Known for her acting chops, Taryn went on to star on ‘Orange Is The New Black’ and ‘Sons Of Anarchy’.
She revealed what it was like to work with Britney during a podcast appearance in 2021, claiming the star “wasn’t allowed” to talk to anyone on set. “She was never allowed to talk to anybody,” Taryn said. “I don’t know if she was ever allowed to just have a friend, to be honest with you. … I don’t know for sure, but it didn’t seem like she could just call a friend and go kick it. Way before [the conservatorship].”
Kim Catrall
Former ‘Sex In The City’ siren Kim Catrall played Britney’s distant mom Caroline in ‘Crossroads’. The blonde bombshell is currently on ‘
Dan Aykroyd
Comic legend Dan Aykroyd played Britney’s dad Pete in the movie. The former ‘SNL’ funnyman is an icon of his genre. He originated the ‘Blues Brothers’ characters John Belushi and is also beloved for his roles in ‘Ghostbusters’.
Justin Long
Justin Long has a quick appearance as Henry in ‘Crossroads’, a boy Britney’s character Lucy tries to have a tryst with. He remembered kissing the superstar in a 2019 ‘Entertainment Weekly’ interview, where he dished “I got to say, she was so sweet and down to earth, it was really like disarming.”
He also wrote about working with Britney in a Dec. 2020 Instagram, writing, “I remember being slightly nervous to work with Britney Spears — she was such a massive star in 2002 (as she still is). When she introduced herself to me in the makeup trailer, I was disarmed by how sweet and NOT famous she seemed — just a nice girl (not yet a woman) from Louisiana.”
“People would clamor to get to her and paparazzi were constantly lurking behind trees, in bushes, etc.” Long wrote in the post. “Years later, when the tabloid frenzy surrounding Britney reached a fever pitch, I remember feeling so sorry for her. Nobody deserves to be hounded and harassed like that — least of all a very sweet person — one who behaved kindly towards a young nervous actor who occupied a much lower rung on the hierarchical ladder of that film set.”
