Sinitta: The Woman Who's Head Over Heels for Simon Cowell

Move over Robert De Niro. Simon Cowell is also "down with brown."

A glamorous African American woman, relatively unknown in the United States, has had an on-again off-again love affair with the 'American Idol' judge many think is unlovable.

Her professional name is Sinitta, and she's a former pop singer who now works with Cowell on his successful TV talent competition 'The X Factor,' helping him select the contestants and acting as a mentor.

And although they dated each other -- along with having marriages and high-profile relationships with other people -- Sinitta still loves him dearly.

"I love him with all my heart," the 40-year-old Seattle native who now lives in Europe, told London's Daily Mail this week. "When we are together, he's a very primary person in my life," she continued. "But he wants to be a single guy. He wants to see who he wants to see when he wants to see them. I'm a very monogamous woman. I need someone who will put me first the whole time."

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Sinitta (born: Sinitta Renet Malone) is the mother of two adopted children (with international businessman Andy Willner). The kids (ages 2 and 3) live in Hong Kong with their father. And the 'So Macho' singer is self-described as "emotionally wiped out, exhausted" about the dissolution of her marriage, which is in the final stages of divorce. "I still love him," she told the tabloid. "He still loves me. He wasn't the wrong person. It's just our lives are going in different directions now. I regret not being with him."

Cowell, who comes across as heartless and vindictive on the top-rated FOX series, has been there to help Sinitta pick up the pieces. The pair recently spent two weeks on a yacht as a guest of billionaire Sir Philip Green in Sardinia.

"With Simon, I could sit on a boat for two weeks and just relax. We escape together. That's probably what it is with us. I'm his escape, I would say, and he's mine. On the boat, I was able to think, 'Okay, when my babies come back, we start a new life.'"'

Sinitta said she has an incredible, undefinable friendship with Cowell and has even considered rekindling the romance, but she thinks their lives are too complicated now. "I have the children, and he has this crazy career."

And she's quite a worldly woman, too. Cowell isn't the only famous man she's dated. According to reports, Sinitta had a two-year relationship with Brad Pitt during the late 1980s.

High-profile romances didn't materialize into happiness for Sinitta, who blames her former "wild days" for suffering four miscarriages, three failed attempts at in vitro fertilization and another two miscarriages through a surrogate.

And then there's the requested abortion she endured for a man she would not name.

"The person I was with thought I was too young and didn't think I was ready to start a family, or that it would be good for me or my career," she revealed. "'At the time I did it. There was no counseling, nothing."

Today, the bronze beauty – a reported minister of the Hillsong Church in London since 1993, is hopeful that her honesty might help other young women.

"You don't get here without making mistakes. I've begun to realize that with every interview I give. I'm writing my children's history," she noted. "I don't want to create more mess by not being clear about what's going on. I feel comfortable enough in my skin now to be completely honest."

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Bold, Black & British

Bold, Black & British: Notable Actors From U.K.
The U.K. is home and motherland to lots of black talent. American movie lovers have become avid fans of acclaimed actors such as (l-r) Idris Elba, Thandie Newton and Delroy Lindo. But there's plenty more from where that comes from. Check them out.

Getty Images / Bauer-Griffin

Bold, Black & British

Bold, Black & British: Notable Actors From U.K.
American movie lovers have become avid fans of acclaimed actors such as (l-r) Idris Elba, Thandie Newton and Delroy Lindo. But there's plenty more from where -- Great Britain -- that comes from. Check them out.

Getty Images / Bauer-Griffin

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
'Triple A,' as he's called, made an impression as Adebisi on 'Oz' before gaining a new fan base for his role as Mr. Eko on ABC's mystery series 'Lost.' The Islington, London-born actor has worked with Matt Damon in 'The Borne Identity' and with 50 Cent on 'Get Rich or Die Tryin'.' Currently gracing the screen as Heavy Duty in the action-packed film 'G.I Joe: Rise of the Cobra,' Akinnuoye-Agbaje recently revealed that he's in discussions to play the superhero Black Panther for Marvel Entertainment.

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Chiwetel Ejiofor
Since landing his first leading role in the 2002's 'Dirty Pretty Things,' for which he won a British Independent Film Award for best actor, Ejiofor has pulled off some big roles. He was the first black actor to have a major role in a Woody Allen film for 'Melinda and Melinda,' and he played a menacing role in John Singleton's 'Four Brothers.' In 2007, he starred with Don Cheadle in 'Talk to Me' and played one of Denzel Washington's brothers in 'American Gangster.' Later this year, the London-born actor will appear in the sci-fi film '2012,' and in 2010, he will be appear opposite Angelina Jolie in 'Salt.'

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Thandie Newton
Newton made her film debut in the Australian film 'Flirting,' opposite Nicole Kidman. She has since appeared in several high-profile films, including Oprah Winfrey's 'Beloved,' 'Mission Impossible II' and the Oscar-winning 'Crash.' The London-born actress played Condoleezza Rice in the Oliver Stone film 'W.' She is set to star in the sci-fi film '2012,'opposite Ejiofor, this fall.

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Delroy Lindo
Primarily seen in supporting roles, Lindo starred in two of Spike Lee's films: 'Malcolm X' and 'Crooklyn.' The Eltham, London, born actor also starred opposite John Travolta in the hit film 'Get Shorty' and Nicolas Cage in 'Gone in 60 Seconds.' A stage actor as well, Lindo directed August Wilson's play 'Joe Turner's Come and Gone' last year in Los Angeles. Most recently, he voiced the character of Beta in Disney's smash hit 'Up.'

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Marsha Thomason
Best known for playing Nessa Holt on the first two seasons of NBC's series 'Las Vegas,' Thomason also played Martin Lawrence's love interest in 'Black Knight.' The Moston, Manchester, actress currently has a recurring role on ABC's 'Lost' as Naomi Dorrit and was recently seen in the straight-to-DVD film 'Into the Blue 2: The Reef.'

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Adrian Lester
Lester became known to American audiences when he played campaign manager Henry Burton in Mike Nichols' 1998 film 'Primary Colors.' Since then, the Birmingham native has had numerous roles on the big and small screen, such as playing a movie star dating Tracee Ellis Ross' character, Joan, on the TV series 'Girlfriends.' He currently stars in the TV series 'Hustle,' which chronicles the adventures of a motley group of London con artists who pull of a series of daring and intricate stings.

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Marianne Jean-Baptiste
In 1996, Jean-Baptiste hit her stride when she landed Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for her performance in Mike Leigh's family drama 'Secrets and Lies.' For the last seven years, the London-born actress has played FBI agent Vivian Johnson on 'Without a Trace.' With the series now canceled, Jean-Baptiste is ready to get back on the big screen and will be in 2010's 'Takers,' which is being produced by Will Packer.

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Colin Salmon
Known for his appearances as the fictional character Charles Robinson in three James Bond films, Salmon was seen in HBO's 'The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency,' opposite Jill Scott. His last role was as agent Paul Budiansky in the comic book film 'Punisher: War Zone.'

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David Harewood
Harewood was featured in 'Blood Diamond,' alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou. A veteran of TV, Harewood is currently portraying Friar Tuck in the third series of 'Robin Hood.' He will be appearing in an upcoming episode of 'Doctor Who.'

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