Love her or hate her, there’s no denying Britney Spears‘ impact.

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The woman is a force of nature, and her influence on the world of music persists to this day. She became a minor star when she was a child, and that stardom rocketed to massive fame before she turned 20. By the time she celebrated her 21st, Spears was a big deal — she’d already released two albums and was prepping for her third, and her music was quick becoming the next big thing. She became the Princess of Pop when she could barely be counted as an adult, and held onto the title for decades.

Years of personal — but highly publicized — struggles and a conservatorship controlled Spears’ life for the last decade, at least, but the dissolution of the conservatorship is granting the star renewed freedom. We’re finally getting Spears’ story from her own lips — most recently, through the release of her book — and that story is shining a vital, but harsh, light on the struggles of fame. Its also reminding people just how young Spears was when she got her start.

How old was Britney Spears in Crossroads?

Spears is many things: Performer, songwriter, dancer, star. She’s even tried her hand at acting a few times, and — while reactions to her attempts vary between audience members — she was clearly successful in part. Not everyone counts Crossroads, Spears’ second film, as a favorite, but it was by no means the end of Spears’ career as an actress. She reappeared on several occasions, starring in films like Austin Powers in Goldmember and even shows like How I Met Your Mother, despite consistent criticism directed at her acting ability.

One of her best performances is undeniably contained in Crossroads, perhaps due to Spears’ young age. As she got older, and pressure got more intense, the scrutiny Spears lived under likely impacted her performances. Back when she was at the start of her career, however, she was likely far less inhibited, resulting in a far more charming, real performance. And that’s despite the fact that Spears was only 20 years old during filming. When the film first began production, she was still technically a teen, but by the time she was captured on camera, Spears was stepping into her 20s.

The reappearance of Crossroads in theaters — it was re-released to cinemas in October of 2023 — is reminding people of just how young Spears was when she became a star. She looks like a child in the film, and her youthful appearance, paired with the issues she grappled with later in life, is prompting a necessary discussion about child stars, the impacts of such scrutiny at a young age, and the culture of fame in general.