Popstar Justin Timberlake launched the female version of Givenchy’s perfume Play in Paris. Metro talked to him.

What is a popstar from Memphis doing pushing perfume in Paris?
I’m a creative person. I like to develop other senses than my ears.

And to earn money?
I don’t have to do this for the money and I’m not interested in being the face of a brand. I just think it’s fun to learn how to bring a perfume to the market. And Givenchy is a legendary name for me, because my mother admired Audrey Hepburn, the muse of the brand, very much.

You have two versions of Play For Her. Why?
Because women, just like men, have different moods. At times, they can be beasts and then they want a spicy, bestial scent. At other times, women are more relaxed and they would like to have a lighter, more floral perfume.

Recently, you made the video for Life Without You with Holland’s Esmee Denters. What do you think of her?
Esmee is a true talent and very funny, and very soulful. She’s still very young, but she’s  like me in my younger days, enterprising and not afraid. I like that. Her voice is very American, but her character is very European.

What do you mean, European?
Europeans don’t have an attitude. You are very well able to separate work from your private life. You have to be able to do that, otherwise you’ll go mad.

Are you good at it?
I try to. I always make sure that I’m surrounded by friends I have known since before I got famous. That’s how you remain level-headed. And my mother is a very common sense person.

She must be very proud.
Yes. Especially, because I got over my timidity. My mother said that until I was eight-years-old I only knew what my sneakers looked like. I always walked around with my head down. But when I discovered the stage at school, a monster came out.

And now you’ve sold 17 million records, have your own clothing line William Rast and your perfumes. Are you satisfied?
It can always get better. And then I don’t mean that I want to make more profit. I like to work with people who are passionate about their business. It’s not easy being Justin Timberlake, with all the attention, but I feel privileged.

You are working on a comedy with you ex-girlfriend Cameron Diaz. Doesn’t Jessica Mind?
What can I say? Cameron and I share the same sense of humour and I enjoy working with her. With Jessica I share other things.