The Sunday Telegraph (Nov. 21st 2004)

“I feel like a lottery winner”

Gwen Stefani has sold millions of records as No Doubt's singer, snagged a few Grammys, started a fashion label and married a rock star. But with the release of her debut solo album, she tells Joanne Hawkins she's just a girl at heart

Gwen Stefani is sitting in a fabulously trendy London hotel room calmly explaining that she's just the same as me, really. She says it so earnestly, that she's still just a girl from California's Orange County, that it seems churlish to pick her assertion apart. But, for the record, I haven't made pots of money in a band, am not married to a handsome rock star and am not particularly renowned for my unique dress sense.

I doubt whether Stefani's entourage would buy the "just a girl" line, either. Earlier, their behaviour had left me in no doubt that they thought they were dealing with a very big star. Summoned to something called the "listening room" to hear tracks from Stefani's debut solo album - Love. Angel. Music. Baby. - I was asked to hand over my tape recorder, sign a disclaimer that I wouldn't publish a word of my interview anywhere but in sunday magazine and to listen to three of Stefani's new songs under the supervision of a press officer.

I then listened to the songs again - and again - because Norway, as the harrowed PR explained, was running late after an earlier problem with Spain. Fortunately, I was saved from having to listen to her songs - including the catchy, "What You Waiting For?" - a fourth time (forget secretly taping them; by this stage, I could sing the tunes off by heart) with the news that Norway had finished early. Thank god for those efficient Scandinavians.

Back upstairs in the penthouse suite, Stefani herself is warm and chatty, enthusiastically telling "Australia" about her babies - her new album and a possible real one of her own - and about it being a magical time in the album's gestation. She speaks nine to the dozen, often not finishing sentences before launching off on a tangent. "It's right before [the album] comes out, before anyone is judging it. I feel so proud of it. And I know it's crazy, ridiculously good." Before I have a chance to ponder on Stefani's apparent lack of modesty, she quickly adds, "And I can say that because I didn't do it myself, I wrote with so many people who contributed their talents. It is just very exciting. I set out to do something and I did it."

Stefani is, of course, better known as the lead singer of No Doubt, whose on-off popularity culminated in the smash 2001 album Rock Steady and its Grammy Award-winning single, "Hey Baby". The 35-year-old wasn't intending to start work on a solo record so soon, especially as she says she was exhausted after so much time spent touring. But, as she tells it, she realised she didn't have any time to waste. "I knew I had to do it right away, otherwise the [next] No Doubt record would take forever to write, and I want to have a baby, too, plus I want to do movies really bad ... How would I get it all done?" she asks in her sing-song Californian Valley Girl accent (her speech is peppered with "dude", "man", and even "sick", as in, "The album's sick").

She says fellow band members - ex-boyfriend and bass guitarist Tony Kanal, guitarist Tom Dumont and drummer Adrian Young - were supportive of her decision to put the band on an indefinite hiatus. "We had never taken a break in 17 years. And I had just married (Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale), and that changes a lot in your mind, because your priorities change. I had dedicated all that time to the band ... but they're cool with me and I am happy for them."

Stefani is at pains to point out that Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (which cannily links with her fledging clothing line, L.A.M.B.) is a dance, rather than a solo project. Running her red nails through the familiar shock of peroxided blonde hair, she explains the difference; although, I have to say that some songs, particularly "What You Waiting For?" (the title of which refers to her initial apprehension about working solo), could be mistaken for No Doubt.

"If this was my big solo debut, I would be sitting writing a record that would finally be the true Gwen Stefani, the pouring my-heart-out record, but [I've already done that with] the No Doubt records. This is actually less of me, because I have worked with people that I've admired over the years."

One of the album's best tracks is "Cool", co-written by renowned R&B producer Dallas Austin, which poignantly looks at Stefani and Kanal's enduring relationship. The lyrics are heart-on sleeve stuff. "After all the obstacles, it's good to see you now with someon else," croons Stefani. "It's such a miracle that you and me are still good friends."

But then Stefani's never been shy about baring her soul in her music. No Doubt's 1995 breakthrough album, Tragic Kingdom, featured the mega-hit "Don't Speak" - a lament about the breakdown of her relationship with Kanal. However, the then quite unsuccessful band never expected it to be a hit, and a squirming Stefani later had to sit next to her ex when she was asked to explain the song.

"The record was never intended to be heard. And [then] it was everywhere, and it was hard because [Tony and I] had just broken up; we'd be sitting [in an interview] and every single question was about it. But it was also a little glorious for me because it was very powerful to be able to express myself and get through the break-up

Later, after Stefani met Rossdale ("We've known each for nine years in December," she says, unprompted), she documented their on and off relationship in songs like "Ex-Girlfriend", where she sang: "I always knew I'd end up your ex-girlfriend."

She says she doesn't regret such honesty. "I don't care because I have nothing to hide."

Fortunately, her pessimism about Rossdale was unfounded and the pair tied the knot - twice, once in California and once in Rossdale's native London - in September 2002. Stefani, always the fashion maverick, was resplendent in her cream and shocking pink John Galliano gown and trademark red lipstick; Rossdale wore shades.

I tell Stefani that I once spent a week with Rossdale before they married; when a charity took us both to Tanzania. I remember him telling me how "uncomplicated and sweet" Stefani was; but how balancing their lives between LA and London was a big task. I also remember hours spent trawling the markets of Dar es Salaam, as Rossdale tried to find just the right kanga (a Tanzanian sarong) to give Stefani.

She seems a little wary about my relevation, but says, "That just makes me so happy [to hear that]. I feel lucky to have found love and to be able to have a husband, you know? He is such a great guy, he inspires me and supports me and motivates me and just totally turns me on."

She stops abruptly, worried she's said too much. "I don't want my marriage to be judged, it's not something I am doing for other people to comment on. It's my husband and me ... so I'm really protective. And I have never been that way about myself, but it's not just me any more, so I have to be guarded."

In the course of our chat, Stefani mentions her desire to have a baby a few times (the interview took place before reports surfaced that Rossdale fathered his 15-year-old goddaughter, Daisy, the daughter of his long-time friend, Pearl Lowe). "I do want to have one really bad, but I also want to try everything, and do everything. But maybe once I have that little person, I'm going to be staring at it the whole day, so I had better do [the] other stuff quickly. But I don't even know if I am going to have a baby, it's not even up to me, is it?"

Motherhood may also force Stefani and Rossdale to choose between her beloved LA and his equally beloved London. Currently they split their time between the two ("It's hard but [at least] this Orange County girl gets to be the London girl"), although Stefani misses her family (sister Jill and brothers Eric and Todd) in the US. "But as long as I'm with him, our lives are where we're together."

That said, she can't imagine travelling between countries with a baby. "It's hard enough just taking me. That's the reason why I never got another dog."

In the meantime, Stefani is dipping a cautious toe into the acting pond, with a role as Jean Harlow in Martin Scorsese's film, The Aviator. "My part is very, very, very small. But it was magic. But I was f***ing nervous beforehand."

She's also concentrating on clothing label L.A.M.B. - pieces that Stefani might wear herself (think skin-tight pencil skirts, kilts with attached suspenders). "It's something for the future that I'm very, very passionate about," she says. "It's just this little baby thing that I am going to try to get really good at. But there's no pressure with it, unlike the music."

She enthusiastically describes the outfit she's wearing today - knee-high boots and a knit by Vivienne Westwood teamed with Miss Sixty jeans. "I love fashion and I love clothes," she babbles. "My Mum made all my clothes when I was little, so I was always in the fabric store."

Her dress sense is often criticised, but Stefani doesn't care. "Everyone has different tastes and I think lots of things people wear are horrible. I wear things that make me happy."

Our interview is ending. Stefani's assistant tells her that Rossdale is waiting and she breaks into a huge grin. She looks like the cat who got the cream. So can she believe the way her life has panned out?

"I'm basically just a girl from Anaheim who didn't know what she was going to be when she grew up," she muses, "and here I am with the world within my reach, and I intend to take advantage of it all. I feel like a lottery winner."

A mischievous one, nonetheless. "Now, what was your name again? I'll see if Gavin remembers you," she says, her eyes twinkling.

Yeah, maybe she's just a girl after all.

Love. Angel. Music. Baby. is released today