Smallscreen News

Leona Lewis on Oprah, Ellen and Tyra

By M&C Smallscreen Apr 11, 2008, 18:13 GMT

British singer Leona Lewis performs at the fourth night of the 58th Italian Song Festival in Sanremo, Italy, 29 February 2008. The festival is a popular Italian song contest running since 1951 and held annually in the city of Sanremo. This year\'s edition is scheduled for 25 February to 05 March. EPA/CLAUDIO ONORATI

Leona Lewis, the British singing sensation visited the “Extra” studios where she opened up to mentor Simon Cowell's gal Terri Seymour about her sudden rise to fame, Simon Cowell’s rumored gift and dished about talk show hosts, Oprah, Tyra Banks and Ellen DeGeneres.

On becoming the first British female to top the U.S. music charts in 20 years, Lewis admitted, “I still can't believe it. I’m trying to get my head around it.  It's such an amazing achievement.”

As for the rumors that Simon Cowell bought her a $5 million house, Lewis exclaimed, “Everyone keeps asking, ‘How's the house? How many bedrooms? The swimming pool!’ 

There's no house!” Lewis continued, praising Simon. “I think of him as someone who's guiding me in my career and really opening doors that would never have been opened before.”

When asked about winning Cowell’s The X-Factor, Lewis responded, “The show has given me an amazing platform and Simon [Executive Producer] has given me an amazing platform. You never know if that would’ve been accessible if I had not done the show and have met him.”

In addition to her “Extra” interview, Lewis has made appearances on Oprah, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Tyra Banks Show.

She commented, “Ellen [DeGeneres] was really sweet and really funny as well. Oprah was amazing because I think she’s such a lovely lady. So giving and charitable…I went on the Tyra [Banks] Show. She’s just so awesome. I love Tyra Banks. I am a huge fan of hers. I was really, really star struck when I met her. We had fun. We had a girly chat. She’s really lovely.”

As for the biggest change in her life, Lewis explained, “I’m able to incorporate music everyday and to talk about music. To perform, to sing, to go on different shows. That’s amazing for me since that’s always been what I wanted to do. The biggest thing to get used to is people recognizing you on the street.”

Prior to becoming a household name, Lewis had many forms of employment. “I worked so many jobs: waitress, retail, everything,” she said. “For now, [I’m] concentrating on my music. I hope to tour now…Go on sharing my music.” As for her dream collaboration, she declares, it “would probably be with Stevie Wonder…and Alicia Keys.”

Lewis also tells “Extra” that she is off the market declaring, “Yes, I have a boyfriend…[but] I’m never away for too long a period of time…You just kind of work it out.”

For more with Leona Lewis, tune in here.