Dec. 1, 2006

Cameron Diaz won't pretend that she tried to prove she was a "serious" actress by starring in features such as "Gangs of New York" and "Vanilla Sky," but she's more than comfortable with her current title as a "romantic comedy queen."

"I am not ashamed for being a happy, bubbly, funny person," Diaz says. "If you want to start putting people in boxe,s I don't have a problem with that. I don't think I'm undervalued. I am honored to just be in the position that I am. I am not going out there saying I deserve more."

Her latest flick, "The Holiday," finds Diaz playing Amanda, a Los Angeles movie trailer producer who can't seem to deal with a serious relationship (a quick goodbye to Ed Burns). On a whim, she exchanges homes with a Brit played by Kate Winslet and heads out to the London countryside in search of some peace and quiet. Instead, she finds the love of her life in a single dad played by Jude Law. The two have terrific chemistry (Law hasn't been this likeable in eons), but Diaz admits the touching love scenes weren't as easy as they looked.

Video: Check out Cameron Diaz in 'The Holiday'

"I'm sure as you ask every other actor, they'll all tell you it's uncomfortable first off to think about having to be intimate with somebody who isn't the person that you're intimate with," Diaz says, always trying to deflect any question that might be perceived as personal. "But, you're acting and it's your job and there's certainly a level of professionalism that is essential to do that kind of work. You're in a room with 50 people and the camera is right here. It's about making people believe it's something, but it's never that."

Most of America knows of Diaz's long relationship with pop superstar Justin Timberlake which she has always done everything possible not to comment about. Still, she doesn't mind admitting she doesn't need a man around to make her happy.

"I love being alone. I love it! I just love being by myself," Diaz says. "I'm good at it, but not in weird way. Not like, 'Leave me alone.' I'm very comfortable by myself."

The tabloids' constant focus on her relationship with Timberlake actually caused her to withdraw from the public eye and turn down numerous projects over the past few years. Today, she's eager to get back in front of the camera and get her career going again.

"The last couple of years were hell. I can't even tell you. It was so hard," Diaz says. "I didn't know how to handle it and I'm sure, as everyone can agree, it's changed and it was really difficult to deal with it, but I think I'm in a much better place now. Much better."

And for Diaz's fans that means more and more Christmas presents such as "The Holiday" (and "Shrek the Third") to come.

"The Holiday" opens nationwide Dec. 8.