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A Britney Spears biopic is incoming, and needless to say, what little is known so far has whipped fans into a frenzy. Jon M. Chu (Wicked, Crazy Rich Asians) is set to direct the film for Universal Pictures, which won the rights to Spears's poignant 2023 memoir, The Woman in Me. The story will likely follow Spears's rise to superstardom, as well as her battles with mental health issues and a 13-year court-ordered conservators hip, which ended in 2021.
Though no official release date has been set for the project, Chu has said that Spears will play a pivotal role in bringing it to life. "She's going to be very involved," Chu told Entertainment Tonight of the film, which is still in development.
Well, we are hyped—so hyped, in fact, that while we await casting news, Vogue has decided to dream-cast the biopic ourselves. Read them below.
Britney herself—duh
Photo: Getty Images
Okay, this is a tall order, we know. The Princess of Pop has made it quite clear that she's done with the entertainment business, especially after being forced to perform for years under her conservatorship. But one can still dream that she would star in Chu's film herself. After all, her inimitable stage presence is going to be hard (if not impossible) to replicate. Why not go directly to the source?
Addison Rae
Photo: Getty Images
Yes, yes, Addison Rae is known primarily for being a TikTok star. But in her burgeoning pop career, Rae has shown that not only can she dance, but also churn out genuine hits (cue: "Aquamarine") and serve a look—all mandatory Britney characteristics. Plus, Rae has that America's sweetheart–turned–It girl vibe to her (like Britney, she's a southern girl), and with more than 88 million followers on TikTok alone, she could introduce Britney's incredible legacy to a whole new audience.
Madelyn Cline
Photo: Getty Images
With her starring roles in Outer Banks and Knives Out, Cline has already proven she has the acting chops for the role. Well-practiced dance routines and dubbing can transform anyone into the pop superstar—but capturing the complex emotions the role requires is a whole other story, and Cline would be well-suited for the task.
Sabrina Carpenter
Photo: Getty Images
Paging Sabrina Carpenter! It would be a classic Hollywood move to cast one of modern pop's biggest stars in a project like this. Plus, Carpenter has a history of acting on the Disney Channel (and on Broadway!) before making it big as a pop girl, matching Britney's rise to fame following her stint on The Mickey Mouse Club. And just think of the Sabrina-fied versions of classic Britney songs we could get. Instantly yes.
Margot Robbie
Photo: Getty Images
As a three-time Oscar nominee, Margot Robbie certainly has no trouble leading a huge film—and her big, expressive eyes and blonde hair are an added bonus. In Greta Gerwig's Barbie, she even played a picture-perfect icon who slowly begins to unravel. And remember her amazing Brooklyn accent in The Wolf of Wall Street? We just know she would nail Spears's southern twang.
Tate McRae
Photo: Getty Images
Pop star of the moment Tate McRae is constantly being touted as "the next Britney," thanks to her dance-intensive performances and sexy lyrics (cue: "Sports Car"). And while McRae is an artist in her own right, the comparisons are hard to dismiss. We just know she would slay a rendition of "Slave 4 U."
A new discovery
Photo: Getty Images
Let's be real—the smartest choice that Universal and Chu could make would be to cast a new or unknown actor in the role, and create a star themselves. At the moment, there's a very Britney-like dancer on TikTok who could be a contender…hit her up, Chu!
Sydney Sweeney
Photo: Getty Images
Beyond being another famous blonde, Sydney Sweeney, too, has that girl-next-door quality. Plus, do you remember her performance as Cassie on Euphoria? If there is anyone equipped to take on a dramatic rise-and-fall arc, it's Sweeney.
Olivia Holt
Photo: Getty Images
Already a favorite among serious Britney fans (known as the B Army), the 27-year-old is one of the younger stars in the running. But with roles in Heart Eyes and Cruel Summer, Holt definitely has the range (and the look!) to pull the part off.
Bonus castingOf course, Britney isn't the only role to cast in the forthcoming biopic. There are also key members from her family to reimagine—including her sister Jamie Lynn Spears, mother Lynne Spears, and father Jamie Spears—not to mention fellow pop culture icons such as Justin Timberlake, Madonna, and Christina Aguilera. Below, we dream-cast those, too.
Drew Starkey as Justin Timberlake
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
A rising Hollywood heartthrob is basically mandatory for the role of Justin Timberlake, who—during his time dating Spears in the 2000s—was a pop heartthrob himself. American actor Drew Starkey has both the young, blonde pop star look down, and the emotional depth to portray the slightly villainous and manipulative sides of his character (at least, according to the book).
Millie Bobby Brown as Jamie Lynn Spears
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown has been floated as a possible lead for the film—and that could work! But an appearance from her as Jamie Lynn Spears would be a true moment for the film. Without spoiling the entirety of The Woman in Me, things get—well—tense between Britney and Jamie Lynn. It could be a really interesting role for Brown to sink her teeth into.
Sandra Bullock as Lynne Spears
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
A number of online fan forums have pitched Bullock for the part of Britney's mom, and it's pretty genius. The Oscar-winning actor would bring something unique and hard-hitting to the role; plus, she did a killer southern accent in The Blind Side.
Alec Baldwin as Jamie Spears
Photo: Getty Images
Undoubtedly the villain of the film, the role of father Jamie Spears—who orchestrated Britney's abusive conservatorship— is probably the most demanding and challenging to cast. But there is something about Alec Baldwin's intensity onscreen that seems right for it. (It's not for nothing that he's also played bad guys in Malice and The Hunt for Red October.)
Timothée Chalamet as Kevin Federline
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
The role of Kevin Federline (otherwise known as K-Fed) needs to be played by someone who isn't afraid to play a, well, pretty polarizing character. Timothée Chalamet, one of the finest young actors of our time, could bring something interesting to the sleazy backup dancer who won Britney's heart. Even if he is only in one or two scenes, we could see Chalamet totally eating it up.
Julia Garner as MadonnaPhoto: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
A mentor to Britney throughout her career, Madonna obviously needs to make a cameo in the film—and who better to play the part than Julia Garner, who was set to portray Madonna in her (now-scrapped) biopic? She is almost a dead-ringer for the pop icon. Perfect casting.
Alexa Demie as Christina Aguilera
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
Lastly, would it even be a Britney movie without a Christina Aguilera appearance? As some of the biggest pop girls of the 2000s, the two singers were often pitted against each other—something Britney writes about in her memoir—though they also iconically performed "Like a Virgin" together, with Madonna (see above!), at the 2003 VMAs. So, who would we want to see as Christina? Alexa Demie, who has the requisite sass and attitude to pull of the X-Tina "Dirrty" era.
One of Britney Spears' most iconic concert looks just hit the auction block.
The ensemble, originally crafted by Bob Mackie for the 1981 Las Vegas stage production Jubilee!, was part of the Bold Luxury: The Limelight Edit event by Julien's Auctions, which began on Thursday, March 27.
The four-piece set was worn by Spears, 43, for her 2001 Dream within a Dream Tour. That November, one night of the tour was made into a televised HBO concert special.
Spears performed in the bra and armbands on "Baby One More Time..." for the special. She wore the full four-piece set with jeans in promotional photos, too. The set sold for an astonishing $78,000 over the weekend, while the jeans — a reproduction of the pair Spears wore — went for $2,925.
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Crystal bra worn by Britney Spears, designed by Bob Mackie.Courtesy of Julien's Auctions
The bra, undergarments and armbands are all French wirework and backed with a blush fabric for a nude illusion. The bra and underwear have set stones and drops at the under-bust of the bra and the waistline of the underwear.
"The Britney Spears items are incredible. The jeans are designed by a new up and coming designer, Corbin Struck, matching the jeans that Britney actually wore," explains Martin Nolan, co-founder and executive director of Julien's Auctions.
Crystal bikini designed by Bob Mackie and worn by Britney Spears.Courtesy of Julien's Auctions
Spears wrote about her experience on the tour in her 2023 memoir, The Woman in Me.
"The Dream Within a Dream Tour, right after my album Britney came out in the fall of 2001, was my fourth tour and one of my favorites," she recalled.
Of the fashion, she added, "When someone knew just how to style me, I was always grateful. They are shrewd about how they presented me as a star, and I know that I owe them. They captured me as an artist. The minds behind that tour were brilliant. It was by far my best tour."
Bold Luxury: The Limelight Edit also featured memorable looks from Cher, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe and other pop culture fashion icons, with Cher's stage-worn "If I Could Turn Back Time" ensemble selling for $162,500.
Wicked director Jon M Chu has denied casting rumours for the upcoming Britney Spears biopic.
The movie, which will be based Spears' life, was announced last year when Universal acquired the rights to her memoir The Woman in Me.
It was later reported that Chu has signed on to develop the project, alongside La La Land and Dear Evan Hansen producer Marc Platt.
Since then, speculation surrounding the cast has been circulating online, including a Twitter/X post from Buzzing Pop that claimed: "Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter and Millie Bobby Brown battle for Britney Spears role in a Jon M. Chu-directed biopic, described as a 'career-making movie.'"
The rumour was quickly shut down by director Chu who explained that casting had not yet been discussed.
"None of this is true. Sounds exciting but have not had one conversation about casting this movie yet. We are way too early in development. Sorry," he replied to the post.
Spears originally ann ounced the news of her biopic via a social media post, writing: "Excited to share with my fans that I've been working on a secret project with #MarcPlatt. He's always made my favorite movies … stay tuned."
BEN STANSALL
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The rights for the movie reportedly sparked a huge bidding war, following the success of Spears' The Woman in Me book, which was released in October 2023.
The book covers the singer's early life and career beginnings as part of The Mickey Mouse Club and her meteoric rise to becoming the world's biggest pop star.
KMazur - Getty Images
Related: Wicked director Jon M Chu lines up unexpected new movie
It also shines a line on her 2007 struggles and the conservatorship she was under for over a decade, after which she publicly revealed the extent of its impact upon her.
Earlier this month, Millie Bobby Brown also addressed rumours regarding her involvement in the project, as she seemingly put her name forward for the iconic role.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, she said: "Nothing would make me happier than being able to play such an iconic, beautiful person. I leave that to the gods."
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Published Mar 31, 2025 • Last updated 11 hours ago • 4 minute read
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Britney Spears Photo by Britney Spears /Instagram Britney Spears left little to the imagination in a recent social media post in which she posed in lingerie, wearing a tiny red thong.
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Spears, 43, took to Instagram to seemingly sound off on the casting of a planned film set to tell her life story, captioning her post (per the New York Post and PEOPLE), "Definitely a character because that's not me !!! But wait s— it does kinda look like me 
!!! Just kidding !!!"
Commenting was turned off when she re-uploaded the pics without a caption, but more than 191,000 people liked her slideshow.
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Last summer, Universal Pictures announced it had landed the rights to turn Spears' 2023 autobiography, The Woman in Me, into a feature film with Wicked filmmaker Jon M. Chu set to direct.
The Toxic singer celebrated the news on X at the time, tweeting she was "excited to share with my fans that I've been working on a secret project with #MarcPlatt. He's always made my favourite movies … stay tuned."
But Spears has raised eyebrows with some of the antics she has shared to social media.
In September 2023, a video of Spears dancing with what appeared to be knives sparked concern, prompting a welfare check and a police investigation. But the singer later clarified that the knives were fake and inspired by Shakira's performance at the MTV Video Music Awards.
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Britney Spears danced with knives again following bombshell revelations from her upcoming memoir. Photo by B ritney Spears /Instagram Earlier this month, Spears posted a racy video of herself dancing to ex Justin Timberlake's song Señorita on Instagram.
The clip has since been deleted, but Billboard reported that Spears "slipped into a pair of thigh-high black boots, a brown Stetson hat and a patterned thong bodysuit to bust some moves in front of a roaring fireplace to a classic JT tune."
Several hours after sharing the video of herself dancing to Timberlake, PEOPLE reported that Spears shared another sultry dance video — this time in a red gown — set to Janet Jackson's That's the Way Love Goes.
In another post from earlier this month, Spears twirled around in "a dirty night gown."
"I have nice dresses too, but do you honestly think I feel anyone is worthy of the real me at this point?" she asked her 41.7 million followers.
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In yet another since-deleted post, Spears struck a series of poses for the camera, writing, according to the Daily Mail, "I will probably take this down tomorrow … It's weird wearing lingerie … The intention is supposed to be sexy!!! S***, the pressure … I feel way too vulnerable and exposed, and my body looks bigger so I guess I'm not a stick thin model … I would be a, let's just say, voluptuous model."
With musical biopics proving to be a success at the box office, some of the actresses rumoured to be in the running to play Spears in the planned film include Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter.
But Chu shut down talk that there's a front-runner to topline the biopic in a social media post earlier this month, writing, "None of this is true. Sounds exciting but have not had one conversation about casting this movie yet. We are way too early in development. Sorry."
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Spears' bestselling book charted her rise from her time appearing on the Mickey Mouse Club up until her highly-publicized conservatorship case that saw her win back her freedom.
"I poured my heart and soul into my memoir, and I am grateful to my fans and readers around the world for their unwavering support," Spears said after the book's release.
Last month, Heart Eyes star Olivia Holt told Variety she would be "honoured" to help tell Spears' story.
"I'm just so grateful to be in the running and around so many names and talent who are in the running for it. Just the idea that I am on people's minds to play something as iconic as this, would be a dream."
During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show back in 2022, Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown, 21, said her dream was to play Spears.
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"I want to play a real person and I think for me, Britney. (It) would be Britney Spears. I think her story, first of all, resonates with me," Brown told Barrymore.
"Just growing up in the public eye watching her videos, watching interviews of how when she was younger. I mean, same thing with you," Brown continued. "I see the scramble for words (in her interviews) and I don't know her, but when I look at pictures of her, I feel like I could tell her story in the right way and hers only."
Last month, Brown continued her campaign telling Access Hollywood, Spears "is an absolute icon."
"I would love nothing more than to be a part of her story," she said. "But that's her story, and I am in full support of her bringing her story to life how she wants to."
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Jamie Lynn Spears is celebrating a milestone moment for daughter Maddie.
Spears, 33, shared a carousel of photos via Instagram on Sunday, March 30, featuring Maddie, 16, in a floor-length lilac Sherri Hill dress with a thigh-high split. Maddie paired the look with metallic Christian Louboutin heels, styling her hair in a half-up, half-down 'do.
In one image, Spears posed with Maddie, daughter Ivey Joan, 6, and husband Jamie Watson. (Spears and Watson tied the knot in 2014 after she split from ex-fiancé and Maddie's dad, Casey Aldridge.)
"Junior prom💜☂️," Spears captioned her post.
Courtesy of Jamie Lynn Spears/InstagramIn November 2024, the Zoey 101 star celebrated Maddie's commitment to college for softball. "All in my feels, bc my baby girl has committed to furthering her athletic & academic career at the University of Southern Miss!" Spears wrote via Instagram at the time.
"I can remember it like it was just yesterday, as the whole world watched and judged as I made the choice to have my baby at 16 years old, fast fwd to today, and that same little baby girl is now 16 years old herself announcing that she will be going to play D1 ball for an amazing college," Spears continued. "I feel like I can't take much credit for anything, bc I have witnessed this kid go through, face, & overcome some impossible things by her own strong will, convictions, determination, & the sheer grace of God."
In the Sweet Magnolias star's perspective, she "did everything I could to better myself" and be the mom Maddie "deserved" as well as "break those generational curses, so they weren't passed on to her or any future generations."
"I think her story is a true testament to trusting God's will & being able to achieve whatever you're willing to work hard for, and I couldn't be more proud of her!" Spears concluded. "Love you, Maddie🤍🖤💛. GO EAGLES 🦅."
Jamie Lynn Spears' daughter Maddie looked all grown up as she headed off to prom. In a carousel of snaps posted via Instagram on Sunday, April 14, Maddie, 15, stunned in a pink sequined floor-length gown with a thigh-high slit. She completed the look with a pair of sparkly silver pointed-toe heels and held a […]
Maddie revealed the news in her own Instagram post at the time. "I am so excited and blessed to announce my verbal commitment, for my academic and athletic career, to the University of Southern Mississippi!!!" she wrote. "I am so thankful to all the players, coaches, and family that have supported me and made it possible to get to the point I am today. This is a dream come true and I am truly blessed!! Thank you to Coach Poole, Coach Izzy, Coach Aaron, and Coach Matt for this opportunity!! GO EAGLES!!!💛💛💛."
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Years before Maddie's commitment to college, she suffered a near-fatal accident after riding an ATV in Kentwood, Louisiana in 2007. (When the vehicle flipped into a pond, Maddie was knocked unconscious and remained underwater for several minutes before being airlifted to a hospital and treated for days.) Jamie Lynn, sister of Britney Spears, has shared her gratitude through the years now that Maddie has made a full recovery.
"Today is extra special, bc it's Maddie's #MiracleAnniversary and we could never have made it through that time without God, our faith, the first responders, amazing medical teams, family, and the prayers & support from our community, as well as from you guys all around the world," Jamie Lynn wrote via Instagram in February. "I'm posting some pics of Maddie on the set of Sweet Magnolias over the years, bc it was my first job after the accident and after having Ivey, it was a real turning point in my life to get be a part of the Sweet Mags family & community. We have nothing without the love and support of those around us, and I'm so grateful to be a part of a show that's built on that simple fact. 1 more day until SEASON 4 is y'all's🤍. I'll never let this day pass without saying THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU🤍."
In the comments section of the post, Maddie wrote, "i love you mom🤍🤍🤍."
Just For You
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Playing one weekend only at Frontier High School, "Once Upon a One More Time" recontextualizes the Princess of Pop's songs with a fairy-tale overlay.
Director Tevin Joslen said he initially thought to pass on the musical, which debuted on Broadway in 2023, but was so surprised by the story and how perfectly he saw it would fit the talent at the school.
"It's easy to look back at the height of Britney's career and view her as two-dimensional, the same way we view our favorite fairy-tales like Snow White and Cinderella," he wrote in an email. "But when you look a little closer and with a little more empathy, at her interviews and cultural attitudes towards her, the early 2000s highly objectified and stereotyped a young aspiring performer and then criticized her for it.
"In 'Once Upon a One More Time,' we get a chance to look at Cinderella and other fairy-tale characters with a newfound perspective. That, similar to Britney Spears, they are only the face of the story, and don't find that they have much agency or say in how their stories go."
The musical has some similarities with the 2023 movie "Barbie," Joslen said, but with fairy-tale princesses and characters instead of Barbies questioning their existence.
"The Britney Spears songs are used as a way to empower Cinderella, Snow White, and others in order to take control of their stories and rewrite them," he wrote.
While Spears' music was familiar to the cast, the singer's history, including media attacks and a conservatorship that lasted from 2008 to 2021, led to a few lessons.
Joslen wrote, "They knew about the 'shaved head' era and I found myself having my own 'leave Britney alone, moment as I explained how that moment came out of a young girl being exploited, controlled, and critiqued with very little empathy or consideration for her well-being. It was important for me to not let this musical teach them about and celebrate the early 2000s objectification of Britney Spears."
The show's set list is fun, the director said, including the titular number, a reworking of "Hit Me Baby One More Time"; "Toxic," now a villain song sung by Cinderella's Stepmother; and "Circus," which is sung by the "very self-involved Prince Charming."
"Once Upon a One More Time" is the biggest production Frontier has put on since Joslen started teaching at the school.
He wrote, "We have giant moving staircases, a 12-foot-tall scaffolding that rolls all about the stage, a LED light curtain that a student has had to code, more than 15 dance numbers, tons of costumes, some of which were designed by our Fashion Club, and with a new musical that didn't give us any previous productions to look back to as a reference."
Joslen looks forward to audiences coming out for the three performances to experience the "immense amount of hard work and creativity" from the student body and the community its has cultivated.
Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday and 2 and 7 p.m. Satuday at the school, 6401 Allen Road.
Admission is $11, $16.75 for premier seating in advance, $15 or $20 after. Visit Frontier's gofan.co to purchase.
Ashley Jeanne Bowles; Simon & Schuster, LLC.
Tess Sanchez (left); We've Decided to Go in a Different Direction coverIf you didn't lose your bearings just a teeny, tiny bit during the pandemic, were you even really there?
That's just one of the hilarious and thoughtful observations in Hollywood casting director Tess Sanchez's debut memoir, We've Decided To Go In A Different Direction. After losing her job (and some of her sanity, as she recounts in an essay) as a Fox casting executive at the height of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, Sanchez tells PEOPLE that her husband, Running Point star Max Greenfield — who wrote the foreword — is to thank for her finally sitting down to tell her story. Mostly because he had had enough of her incessant musings.
Sanchez, 40, tells PEOPLE, "I actually was following my husband around the house saying, 'What do you think about this and what do you think about that, and why did this happen, and I'm so annoyed about this.' He was like, 'Can you please hire a professional sounding board because I can't do this anymore.' I went to therapy for the first time and she was like, 'You should write some of this stuff down.' "
Some of that "stuff" includes laugh-out-loud stories about hustling her way from a retail job in the early aughts to casting some of the biggest roles in Hollywood, receiving her father's Alzheimer's diagnosis just after her career change and flagrantly catfishing men on dating apps for her sister.
Oh, and in a story that is almost too Hollywood to be true, having her doctor ("think season 1 Meredith Grey") take a selfie with her New Girl-famous husband mere seconds after Sanchez delivered her daughter Lilly in 2008. She and Greenfield also have a son, Ozzy, born in 2015. "She'll know who she is," Sanchez laughs about the idea of the doctor reading the book.
"I wrote it like I was talking to my best friend," she says. "I highly encourage a glass of wine and your bestie," Sanchez recommends as a companion to the essay collection.
Read on for an exclusive excerpt from her memoir where Sanchez writes about the time she reached out to Britney Spears in the hopes of casting her as one of those besties. "This will be my second calling to her," Sanchez says. "My doors are open."
Simon & Schuster, LLC.
We've Decided to Go in a Different Direction by Tess Sanchez coverI am and have always been a Britney Spears fan. I wasn't down at the courthouse with a "Free Britney" sign, but I had participated in conversations about her conservatorship and certainly sided with the movement for her to reclaim her autonomy.
A few years back, I flew to Vegas to see her Piece of Me show toward the end of her residency at Planet Hollywood. Had I known then that she was basically a prisoner on her own stage, out of respect I wouldn't have danced and sang along so enthusiastically. I do know the lyrics to most of her songs. I bought the PEOPLE magazine that had pictures of her wedding with K-Fed. I am not bragging, but I have stored in my long-term memory her sons' names, Sean Preston and Jayden James — information absorbed by living in Los Angeles in the early aughts. I have, however, not had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Spears myself (yet).
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I was genuinely happy when she met and married Sam Asghari, and concerned when they announced their divorce.
About a week after the Sam/Brit breakup announcement, I was flipping through Instagram and landed on one of her dance montages in a bikini top and cutoff shorts. The next story was about how she was getting away on a vacation. I thought, Yes! Turn down the noise on all the divorce drama and media speculation. Good call, Brit.
This revelation got me thinking. Who is she going away with? Is that rumor about the affair with her bodyguard true? And where the F are her girlfriends? Where's her tribe of gals from back in the day? Who is her support system and why isn't said group directing her to the right stylist for better hair extensions? How hard it must be for her to make friends, to trust people. She has 42 million followers, but how many friends?
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The casting director in me took over: I needed to cast a new best girlfriend—and eventually a new boyfriend—for Brit. I had honed my ability to "pick the good ones." So I took to my Instagram and sent her a Direct Message. It read as follows:
Girl, I have been following you forever. You need a solid girlfriend, a friend who does not want or need anything from you. Someone who has your back, with no ulterior motives. I am a mom, and a sister, and have a husband and my own full life. There are normal, good people who live in Los Angeles. You don't need to settle. Anyway, I am thinking about you and hoping that you have a bestie who can support you through your divorce. We are rooting for you. If you ever want to hang or need advice, we got you. Xo, Tess
Ashley Jeanne Bowles
Tess SanchezOkay fine, the offer to "hang" at the end took it a bit too far, but I genuinely meant it. I can't stand to see her struggle and I really am rooting for her. I want Britney to be surrounded by good people who care about her, and I am not sorry for putting an invitation out into the ether to help. Obvi, she never wrote back, but I stand by it. And maybe someday she will accept the offer, and we will hang in my kitchen on a Friday night with cocktails and a cheese plate with my funny, kind friends with no expectation of anything in return.
It is not unlike the time we were at a small party over Oscar weekend 2021 and Taylor Swift was standing two feet from us. I said to Max, "Oh, there's Taylor. You know her, she did an episode of New Girl season two." (Note: She did do an episode of New Girl in 2012, but Max didn't have a single scene with her.) Max's eyes widened as he said, "Tess, do nooooot—" Too late. I had already leaned over and said, "Hey Taylor. Hi Joe." (She was still dating Joe Alwyn.) "How are you guys? You know Max." I looked at Max. He was horrified and frozen but was forced to engage as Taylor threw her a rms open to give him a hug. The four of us stood talking for about twenty minutes, laughing like old friends.
We moved so much as kids that, aside from my one bestie from middle school, Ryan, my older sister, Christina (think Melanie Lynskey), is the closest to a lifetime mirror that I have had. Christina is the yin to my yang. We are so different that we complement each other. I have always looked up to her and been amazed by her clarity and conviction. I feel fluffy next to her. She is the badass attorney, breadwinner, and PTA mom. She will lobby and challenge norms for the betterment of the whole.
It's ironic that now as a parent, I have a sensitive, cautious listener in my son, Ozzie, and a passionate jump now, worry later joiner in Lilly. What a test of my patience when Ozzie wants to know every detail about a situation before agreeing to participate. Hi, boy-me.
As an adult, despite Christina's proclaimed happiness and comfort with being single — and I believed her, because she had a successful career and two fantastic kids, and was living her best independent life — still, I couldn't help it, sometimes I questioned her degree of fulfillment.
I am flawed and clearly annoying, but Max loves me and my idiosyncrasies. If he finds me lovable at my worst, I can't be that bad, right? I longed for Christina to experience that same thing. She deserved to have a bad day and be adored anyway. As does Britney.
That was one of the reasons why, in 2019, when a close colleague said to me, "Your sister sounds great. It's her picker that's broken," I was prompted to take action. Ding! I am a good picker; I do it professionally. Without her knowledge, I decided to build a profile for her on a dating website. I wanted to try my hand at casting her a boyfriend or, at the very least, a sexy fling.
I know what you're thinking. Mind your business, Tess. Did Christina express any sentiment about being lonely? No, not exactly. No, she did not. But I can't help myself! My soul would not rest until I knew I had done my part to maximize every ounce of potential. (Ya hear me, Britney?)
And so it began. I crafted a beautiful profile with pictures, listed hobbies, her ideal geographic dating area, her kids, her trips, and her pets. After two days of tweaks, boom, boom, click, and uploads, we were live.
I felt proud of how authentic and honest her profile looked. I know it sounds like a stretch to use the word "honest" when she had no knowledge of this profile's existence. So what that she had nothing to do with it! It was all TRUE.
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Once I had the gorgeous profile up and running, I let Max in on the plan. "Babe, check this out. I made a dating profile for Christina. I'm going to screen a few candidates for her."
Max stared at me for a beat before saying, "Umm, this is called catfishing, and I think it's illegal. And even if it isn't technically illegal, it should be — you CANNOT do this, Tess. You are committing fraud." I looked up at him and smiled. "It's okay. You don't get it. It's a sister thing."
Not only did he not get it, but he was also vehemently op- posed to this entire plan. Yet I would wake up every morning, take my laptop to the kitchen, and read aloud to Max about Christina's prospective suitors, despite his objections. "Stop. Please stop reading this to me. I don't want to be a part of this or be complicit in any way. And you also sound ridiculous."
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Max Greenfield (left) and Tess Sanchez in 2021My plan all along was to come clean with Christina after I had vetted the candidates and scrutinized the tedious details of each interested suitor. And sure enough, I/Christina began a conversation with a wonderful man named Nelson, a single dad with two kids similar in age to hers. He lived close to me/her in San Francisco and had not done any online dating before. Perfect. We talked back and forth every day, getting to know the details of each other's lives. My mornings were spent giggling at our witty exchanges, while Max stared at me with disdain and disapproval.
After about six weeks of talking/writing almost every day, I asked Nelson if he wanted to meet for coffee. We had come to know each other well enough; it was time to explore the in-per- son chemistry. However, much to my disappointment, after dozens and dozens of flirty exchanges, Nelson said he needed "more time" before meeting in person. Then on a cold November morning, I received a message from Nelson. He wrote that he really liked me but that he had met someone else on the site and they were dating exclusively, so he didn't feel right about continuing to communicate with me.
Not gonna lie, I took the news pretty hard. Max was hardly sympathetic.
"Are you seriously upset that Nelson dumped you? I can't believe I just said that. Do you see how abnormal this all is?!"
I nodded in acquiescence, then lamented, "But Nelson broke up with me/her before I/Christina had my/her shot at a face-to-face date. I don't get it. What did I/she do wrong? Why didn't he pick me/her?"
Max couldn't resist the jab. "I guess your GAME isn't that strong." Ouch. Fair point.
I wrote a strongly worded message back, then deleted it. Wrote another one, deleted it. I ultimately decided to take the high road, with a less is more response. "I am happy for you. Good luck. Christina."
For Christina's birthday later that November, we agreed to take a girls' trip to Palm Springs, just the two of us. It would be the perfect time for me to finally break the news about the catfishing. After our first night, while eating a sumptuous breakfast in bed, it felt like the right time to break the news. "Chrissy, I have something I need to tell you."
"I really want you to be happy and find love again," I said. "But you haven't been dating, and you're not even trying to meet someone."
"This profile is live and has been for about three and a half months. I've been corresponding, as you, with a few men, one in particular. His name is Nelson."
And then there was a very long pause, as in no words spoken. "Here." I handed her my computer. "Go ahead. Take a look at me as you."
I couldn't read her expression. Was she mad? I looked in her eyes and saw skepticism—a familiar look I often get from Max that says: What did you do now?
After nearly an hour, Christina came back inside. She sat next to me and put her hand on mine. "Thank you. Thank you, Tess. No one has ever done anything that thoughtful for me before." I looked at her, flooded with relief. "And also, eff Nelson! His loss! We played that perfectly."
Postscript: Christina took over my/her dating profile for a while but is currently dating a southern dreamboat from Texas who we knew growing up. My friend Britney, however . . .
Excerpted from WE'VE DECIDED TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION (Essays) by TESS SANCHEZ. Copyright © 2025 by TESS SANCHEZ. Reprinted by permission of GALLERY BOOKS, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC.
We've Decided to Go in a Different Direction by Tess Sanchez will be released on April 1. It's available for pe-order now, wherever books are sold.
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