I have my worries, says Madonna

Madonna has written a remarkable open letter to her legions of fans revealing she is really a mass of insecurities and doubts.

The letter, signed Madonna but marked "M" as she is now asking people to call her, is being posted worldwide as an insert in the superstar's fanzine Icon. In it, she talks about her "charmed existence, talented and gorgeous husband and two beautiful children". But she says her public image conceals moments of "deep insecurity".

The star also reveals she can be a gossip and that she sees herself as a survivor, saying: "I have survived the tour, I have survived renovating and moving into a house in London, I have survived making a film with my husband on a deserted island. I'm a real survivor".

The main message, however, is rather corny - that to give to others is the best cure for sadness.

She gushes: "You may look at my life and think I live a charmed existence. I am rich and famous. . . But you would not be looking at the whole picture if that was all you could see. I too have my moments of doubts and weakness.

"My moments where I react before thinking things through. My moments where I take the easy road. My moments where I gossip and am envious. My moments of deep insecurity."

She goes on: "It's important that you know this because we all suffer from the same thing and if I can share any wisdom with you at all it would be this: the only thing that gets me through these hard times is to give. Just give for the sake of sharing and not for what you can get for it. When you feel down or trapped. . . get outside of yourself and do something nice for someone.

"Doing something before you are asked to do it. Pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone. Helping someone in need. Going the extra mile. This is a great cure for sadness, anxiety and self-obsession. . ."

Madonna, 43, urges her fans to give to their communities or schools and promises they will feel better. "Giving is the best medicine," she adds. "But what do I know? Only what I've learned and I want to share it with you."

An American spokesperson for Madonna confirmed the letter was not a hoax.