Lindsay Lohan spoke recently about all the attention she’s gotten lately, saying that the public’s rabid fascination with her life scares her sometimes.

The actress has had a rough run of it in the past few years, between her legal battles, bad reviews for her film projects, and the many drama-filled experiences she’s reportedly had while on set. After getting a bad reputation for being difficult and irresponsible, Lohan says she wants to have a fresh start in London when she takes on a role in David Mamet’s Speed The Plow, which will run from September to November.

“People have certain perceptions of me. For a long time, people looked at me as kind of a celebrity, which is something I never wanted…That’s not what I got into this industry for. I’ve been doing this since I was 3 years old and I’ve been on set since I was 6. People kind of forgot that, and I think now is a good time. And what better than to do it with the great people that I’m working with on stage in London…so that people can focus on the fact that I’m in this industry because I’m an actress and an artist and not just someone you take photos of?” she said.

Lohan says she doesn’t quite understand why the media is so quick to latch on to her, especially when she doesn’t have anything particularly news-worthy going on.

“I don’t understand the crazy fascination with me because it kind of scares me. Even when I’m not doing anything, they create something that I’m doing. But I’m so numb to it at this point that it doesn’t affect me personally,” she says, “whereas in the past I think it did a little bit and I was out in L.A. on my own.”

Lohan had a heart-to-heart with Oprah recently during filming for her OWN docuseries, Lindsay, after the actress began showing signs of her old behavior on set. With her latest role–her first for the stage–Lohan says she’s excited to take on something so different and is ready to take it on with a new attitude.

“I am thrilled to be making my theatrical debut in London this year in David Mamet’s Speed the Plow. Having more than two decades of experience working in the entertainment and movie business, I am excited for the new challenge presented by a role which showcases the ins-and-outs of the American movie business. David Mamet is an iconic play writer and I am excited to be playing this incredible role,” she said in a statement.

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