She was the afro'ed gun-toting goddess Foxxy Cleopatra in Austin Powers in Goldmember. Now Beyonce plays something closer to home in the new Pink Panther movie: a rich pop diva

Adorned in a pink diamond necklace, bangles and three-inch earrings which dangle next to her long, waist-length hair, Beyonce arrives at the interview looking every inch the sparkling star.

In her latest role for The Pink Panther, she once again holds her own against scene-stealing funny men: she plays opposite Steve Martin's Inspector Clouseau and Kevin Kline's chief inspector, who are investigating the disappearance of the Pink Panther diamond.

What was it like working with comedians like Mike Myers in Austin Powers and Steve Martin in The Pink Panther?
'I've been very fortunate. Thank God I'm able to play the straight person because I could never be the comedian. Mike and Steve in some ways have similarities. They both write and they both completely become someone else. Mike stays in character the whole time he's dressed up. Steve is very professional and serious as opposed to Mike, who is shyer. Steve was instantly switching into that phoney French accent and that craziness - I just wanted to laugh all the time.'

Steve described you as very shy. Where does that shyness come from and is that the reason why you became a performer in the first place?
'Probably, yes. I don't say I'm shy anymore, I'm just kind of quiet and calm and I observe; when I am not working I like to just blend in. I come out of my shell when I'm on the stage, now I'm learning in films that I can do the same thing with different characters.'

Do you ever get tired of putting on the Beyonce character in public?
'I do enjoy dressing up and I enjoy photo shoots and videos. It's a place where I can kind of live out a fantasy. But really when I'm at home, I'm the complete opposite. I like heels and I do love stilettos but I don't wear diamonds or make-up when I'm off - I don't walk around dressed in pink diamonds every day.'

Who inspires you as an actress?
'I would have to say Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross in Mahogany and all the other movies. They were singers and they were successful and did not have to act, financially or for any other reasons, but they did because they wanted to and they loved it and were talented and gifted at it. I don't think there's anything wrong with combining music and film. I think it's great when you're able to act and sing. But I do want to eventually do a movie where I'm not a singer.'

Are you taking acting classes?
'I've been working with someone and it's going good. I've learned so much about myself. I've learned you have to pull from things and think about things that I never really thought about. I'm sure it's definitely going to also inspire me to write different songs and different types of music.'

What keeps you balanced?
'My family, definitely. There's always one or two family members with me at all times. They're right there [points to the back of the room]. I don't go anywhere without someone that loves me and that can tell me the truth. Family is so important to me.'

What thoughts have you given to starting a family of your own?
'When I can slow down and focus on that, I will. I definitely want to have a family because I grew up with my mother, father, my sister and Kelly and my cousin and we all went to church every Sunday. We were a strong family and I want the same thing.'

What do you do to relax?
'I try to take two vacations a year and I love the South of France. I love being on the yacht and having a chef cook because I love to eat! I was supposed to go on vacation before The Pink Panther, and I had a choice to go on vacation or do the movie - I chose Steve Martin and Kevin Kline.'

Who's given you good advice in your career?
'Oprah (Winfrey), and she didn't tell me personally! I just will never forget her talking about the power of 'No'. That helped me so much, especially when trying to balance everything and so I have to learn how to say no when I don't like something. That's a very hard thing to do because I don't like to disappoint people and I work hard, but that has also been very helpful to me when I don't feel passionate about something - saying no and meaning it.'

Do your mother or father still give you advice?
'Oh, definitely. My mother always said, 'Beauty fades but beauty from within is forever.' When I was 15, we had a single that came out called No, No, No, it went to number one and I thought I was all grown-up. I was in the record store and she was talking to me but I was singing because I was ignoring her - I was being defiant. She threatened me, which she's never done in her life. She slapped me in my face and said, 'You better listen to me when I talk to you. Don't think you can do that now that you got a number one single.' I was so embarrassed and shocked because I'd never even gotten a spanking before. But that was the best thing she ever did because from that moment on, I never went there - they put me in my place before it started.'

Do you still get excited about a number one record?
'Absolutely! That is still amazing for me. I can never tell when a song is going to be a big hit - even now. That's the way it happened with Bootylicious and Crazy In Love. It would be great to have a number one movie and a number one single at the same time.'

How are you liking having a solo singing career?
'I do like it because I'm able to commit six months to something (other than music) without feeling guilty because other peoples lives become affected by my life - even though it's very scary. It's harder to make decisions by myself and I have to really listen to my instincts a lot more, but it's cool.'

What is the biggest challenge of being a celebrity?
'The hardest thing is balance because I have a perfume line, my mother and I have a clothing line, I have my L'Oreal contract, I have so many things! I still have Destiny's Child, a solo career, acting, albums. Then on top of everything, I approve everything. I approve every button in my clothing line, I approve every photograph, I approve every interview... And then I have a life. I have a family, I have a personal life and it's hard to balance.'

You've accomplished so much so young, do you allow yourself to look back?
'I can't normally. When Destiny's Child won the achievement award at the World Music Awards, they played back everything that we'd accomplished. When you're sitting and you see everything in front of you on the screen, it's like you're watching someone else because you forget about all those moments. One day, when my time has gone by, I will watch and really appreciate it all, but I know I'll see it like it's not really me.'