By John Dingwall 22 November 2005

SINGER Darius Danesh has launched a stinging attack on superstar Robbie Williams.

Former Popstars and Pop Idol contestant Darius said the ex-Take That star should "get over himself".

He also slammed Robbie for putting his career before happiness. Darius, 25, told Heat magazine: "His insecurities and self-loathing have been compelling but now he should get over himself.

"He's the biggest-selling artist of the millennium and it's a shame he can't enjoy it. It's sad that Robbie has never found love."

Glaswegian Darius, has been dating Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge, 31, and is about to star in the West End musical Chicago.

He believes Robbie's personal turmoil has been heightened by devoting too much energy to work. He added: "He's focused on the wrong things. I think family should come first and everything else comes from that. There's nobody I know who puts their career first who's actually happy."

He might be preparing to dazzle on the West End stage, but Darius Danesh isn't so bothered about showbiz these days. A series of personal setbacks, including his father, Booth, being diagnosed with terminal cancer, have given the former Pop Idol star a more philosophical outlook on life as fame and fortune-seeking take a backseat to family and friends.

"All I want out of life is to be the best person I can be," says the 25-year-old in his soft Glaswegian accent. "After what happened to dad, I appreciate the simple things. It's so easy to get caught up in the rat race and forget about what's important. He was given three months to live and it hit us all very hard."

Incredibly, Booth, a 63-year-old surgeon, pulled through to make a full recovery. He will join wife Avril and younger sons Aria and Cyrus to watch Darius make his debut in the West End as Chicago's flamboyant lawyer Billy Flynn on Monday. It's a role Darius is relishing.

"I'm very excited," he says. "Apparently I'm the youngest Billy Flynn ever which is a huge privilege."

It could just be the break Darius needs right now. While he is far too cocksure of himself to admit it, not everything has gone to plan career-wise. After a promising start when his self-penned debut single Colourblind went to No 1, subsequent tracks haven't fared quite so well. His second album, Live Twice, was released a year ago and reached the not so dizzy heights of No 36.

Darius insists that, despite reports, he hasn't been dropped from his record label and is currently putting the finishing touches to a new album.

"I've had five Top 10 hits and I'm very proud of that," he says. "I'm feeling very confident about the new album. I'm doing what I love."

The-then Edinburgh University student shot to fame in 2001 when he appeared on Popstars. Darius's rendition of Baby One More Time made him a household name. But the boy who was so desperate to be taken seriously became a figure of fun.

"I went through a very rough patch, but it's behind me now," he says. "For all the troughs, there are 10 times as many peaks. Even the most successful people have their problems - look at Robbie Williams and Kate Moss. Whatever life throws at me now, I know I can become stronger for it."

Darius bounced back in 2002 to take part in Pop Idol, where he finished third to Will Young and Gareth Gates. Now based in LA, where he lives with long-term girlfriend, actress Natasha Henstridge, it's Scotland that will always be his spiritual home.

"I go up to Glasgow as often as I can," he smiles. "But life is good and I'm very, very happy."

- Chicago is at the Adelphi Theatre.

For tickets contact: 08704 030303.

Star reveals his long-distance love but insists the Atlantic Ocean cannot douse his passion

WEST End star Darius Danesh opened his heart yesterday to insist his passion for a stunning US-based actress will survive.

The 25-year-old Scot is starring on stage in London while lover Natasha Henstridge is filming a hit TV show in New York.

Yesterday, Darius spoke of their romance for the first time and said they will cope with their temporary separationbythe Atlantic He said: "I have found someone who has broken through my belief that a beautiful woman is not necessarily as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.

"I have found someone who truly has the same radiance and the same awe from her character and personality and is a magnificent human being."

Darius dismissed suggestions he is his 31-year-old lover's toy boy.

He said: "We are very much in love and it's a relationship that transcends age or status or continents. I am in a loving and committed relationship with someone I respect."

The Pop-Idol-hopeful-turned-stage-star has has been dating actress and model Natasha for more than a year.

But now he has landed a hot role in the hit West End show Chicago, the pair are being forced to carry on a transatlantic relationship.

Darius makes his debut as dodgy lawyer Billy Flynn on November 21.

But while his conniving character is only in it for the cash, the only thing on Darius's mind is his girlfriend and he insists they are closer than ever.

Darius has had an on-off romance with Natasha since meeting on the set of his video for Kinda Love last year - just four months after Darius split from model Jacqui Ainsley when she moved to Hong Kong.

Natasha, who starred in the alien movie series, Species, and appeared alongside Bruce Willis in The Whole Ten Yards, has two sons, aged seven and four, from a previous relationship.

Now, despite rumours of a fling with singer Geri Halliwell, Glasgow-born Darius has bought a house in Beverly Hills so he can spend as much time with Natasha as possible.

When he got the call to appear in Chicago, Darius was in Los Angeles writing songs for his third album.

Despite being keen to do the show, he says it was tough to leave Natasha.

He said: "It's difficult but we make compromises for each other"She's starring opposite Geena Davis and Donald Sutherland in Commander In Chief, a new TV show about the first female president.

"She's celebrating it being the No.1 show in America, while I'm in London in the hit show Chicago. We are at the other side of the world from each other but we still share that celebration.

"She's coming to my opening night and we will be together and that's something that adds fuel to the fire." Darius is breaking new ground with his role as Billy, as he's years younger than any of the actors who have previously played him.

He said: "When the producers heard I was 25, they thought I was too young. Since the show was created in 1975, Billy Flynn has been played by people at least 10 years older than me.

"But they allowed me to audition and said they thought my lower range was mature enough for the role."

With previous stage incarnations of Billy Flynn including former Wet Wet Wet singer Marti Pellow and Richard Gere playing him on film, Darius has a lot to live up to.

But he can see parallels between Billy's view of fame and his own.

He said: "Billy Flynn is always described as a crooked lawyer but he's actually one of the straightest characters in the whole show.

"When Roxie offers him sexual favours to get her off the charge, he says he will only do it for money. He's very honest about it. He's very aware not everything that glitters is gold and says obsession with fame is dangerous.

"What Billy says is very telling because I've always been cautious of the misunderstood baggage of being in the limelight.

"In order to do what I love, one of the by-products is being famous but it was never the object and has never been my aim"However, I see being in the public eye as positive if I can use my position to help people through charity work."

Darius is hoping to release his third album next year.

But he won't rule out a change of direction, including a move into films like his former Pop Idol competitor Will Young, who stars alongside Judi Dench in Mrs Henderson Presents.

Since his dad, Booth Danesh, 63, was diagnosed with cancer - now in full remission - Darius has been cautious about making plans. Darius said: "If I wanted to start a career in West End musicals, this would be a great position to start from.

"But I try not to make plans because I realise the minute you start making plans, life veers off in the opposite direction and the plans go to waste.

"I try to take each day as it comes and enjoy every moment because who knows where life will take you?

"If you had asked me one month ago where I thought I would be now, I would have said: 'In LA, writing songs.' "However, with my dad suddenly being diagnosed with terminal cancer, then just as suddenly turning around and beating that cancer, I have learned the best way to live my life is to embrace the moment.

"I surround myself with my friends and family and anyone who says you only have one chance in life is fabulously wrong as life is full of opportunities.

"It's the keenness to see them and embrace them that determines whether you have a career in any field and I love showbusiness and hope to be a part of it for a very long time."

#Darius will appear in Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre, London, from November 21 to January 14