BBC has just dropped a never-before-seen picture of '90s pop sensation Britney Spears ahead of the release of the new BBC Arts documentary Britney: In Ten Pictures, which launches today.
The broadcaster shared that the picture was taken by photographer Lisa Means, who captured "intimate snaps of Britney in her hometown in 1999, the week before the star's first album was released".
The photograph was taken in January of that year in Kentwood, with Means commissioned by People magazine. According to the BBC, while "several of the photographs were released at the time, this one was never published".
Related: Best streaming services
In the documentary, Means shared: "I was working for People magazine when I photographed Britney for the first home take that was ever done."
"A lot of photographers push the limits, and maybe they get an outstanding shot, but I want to treat people with respect and that courtesy, and I think that's why they were so welcoming and warming," she added of the access she was given to the Spears' family home.
What to Read Next
The snapshot, taken before the release of Baby One More Time, is of Britney laughing with family and friends in a truck as they journey to get some ice cream.
"They wanted to go get some ice cream, so we went to the local drive-in place. I was smushed in the back of the truck to get the images, so it was kind of challenging too," said Means.
"Jason is driving, a childhood friend, and Courtney. I think this is her cousin here. And we just had so much fun. They were singing to Madonna, and Britney was like, 'I hope I get to meet her one day!' and we were like, 'Oh, that would be really cool'."
Means added: "She was so naïve, so innocent, and I don't mean naïve in a bad way - I mean it in a really good way."
Baby One More Time, released on 12 January 1999, went on to sell over ten million copies in its first year.
Britney: In Ten Pictures is available to watch on BBC iPlayer now.
Visit our Streaming Guide now to see at a glance where you can view ALL your favourite shows and movies.
The new edition of Living Legends, a collector's edition exploring the royal family, is here! Buy The Royals in newsagents or online.
TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
