'I was just another pretty girl who could sing on the west coast of America' ... Nicole Scherzinger
NICOLE SCHERZINGER is recognised the world over as a Pussycat Doll, a successful solo pop star and Formula 1 ace Lewis Hamilton's stunning girlfriend.
But few people know the secret motivation behind her success - missing out on a TV advert playing a dancing toothbrush.The 32-year-old star was left in tears when she was overlooked by Colgate more than ten years ago for the money-spinning gig as she searched for her big break in showbiz.
'I would have been spectacular' ... Nicole Scherzinger credits missing Colgate role for her determination
Barcroft Media In an exclusive interview with The Sun, she confessed: "I missed out on a couple of big movies when I was on the audition trail early in my career.
"I got really close but didn't ever get the big job.
"For TV stuff I auditioned for this Colgate commercial once. I was really desperate for the job.
"They didn't cast me as the dancing toothbrush and I would have been spectacular.
"The thing is, I could have used that money at that time.
"I was struggling and I tried so hard for the job. They were teaching us this choreography for the dancing toothbrush and just turned to me and said, 'No'. It was crushing.
"But I just felt at that moment I was going to prove them wrong. One day they would see I was SO that dancing toothbrush - and so much more.
"I could have been the best dancing toothbrush ever."
Nicole, from Hawaii, used the knock-back as motivation to win a place in Pussycat Dolls, who became a worldwide sensation - selling more than nine million copies of debut album PCD and follow-up Doll Domination.
The US group won a string of awards, then branched into solo projects.
Pop sensation ... Nicole Scherzinger at the front of the Pussycat Dolls on stage
Nicole doesn't rule out a reunion, but her solo career had a great start last year with top three hit Poison. Her new single, Don't Hold Your Breath, is out on Sunday and debut album Killer Love hits shops on March 21.
Fast mover ... Nicole with F1 boyfriend Lewis Hamilton
Clevamedia She also has a leading role in the film Men In Black III, out later this year.
But the memories of driving 12 hours across America for regular rejections when she was "just another pretty girl who could sing on the west coast of America", are still fresh in her mind.
Nicole added: "Auditions are awful. On stage being a pop star I feel at home. Auditions are cold, unpleasant. I have gone through so many and been rejected and sent home in tears.
"But I just finished Men In Black III - a proper Hollywood blockbuster - and it makes all that rejection worthwhile.
"I play Lilly, the girlfriend of the lead character, Will Smith. She is a futuristic vixen of a villain. Oh, and I get to carry a rocket launcher. I am kinda bad-ass in the movie, I'm not going to lie."
There wasn't so much as one dancing toothbrush on set either. Just a line-up that reads like an Oscars party guest list.
Nicole said: "Will Smith made me feel like family on set and Emma Thompson is lovely. Tommy Lee Jones was cool too.
"Because of the Pussycat Dolls people forget I am actually an actress first before anything."
And she joked: "Let me get my Grammy first, then a Brit of course, then who knows? An Oscar one day?"
She might be joking, but stranger things have happened.
TV times ... Nicole Scherzinger could work on the American X Factor after being a guest judge on the UK version
The singer is being linked with a regular gig on Simon Cowell's judging panel on X Factor USA. She impressed as a guest judge on the last series in the UK and revealed that she had issued a strict ultimatum to Simon.
She said: "I made it very clear to Simon. I would love to do X Factor, but only if I am on the same judging panel as him."
That rules her out of the gig in the UK, after Simon decided to focus his energies on making the show a huge hit Stateside.
She has enough to deal with at the moment anyway, with her new album to promote.
British rock veteran Sting duets on one song. Recording sessions included spells in a sound booth at close quarters - but luckily there was no mention of Sting's passion for tantric sex.
She laughed: "His energy is very commanding, in a subtle way. He is giving, generous and kind. There was good 'chi' but no mention of tantric sex.
"I flew to Boston for his show with The Police. I met him and he was everything and more than I thought.
"I felt like we were doing yoga when we were singing. He was such an easy guy to work with.
That picture ... Showbiz Ed Gordon Smart with Nicoe and her holiday snap
"We went into the sound booth to record it and all I was thinking was, 'Oh my gosh, be cool!'
"Singing on the same mic you are really close. He had fresh breath. No broccoli in the teeth.
"They took a picture and I was like a five-year-old. He looks stunning and I look scared."
If she wasn't dating Lewis, I sensed a bit of a crush.
Then again, Sting couldn't get 220mph out of a Toyota Prius powered by mung beans.
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