Gloria Estefan, 40, was born in Cuba. She was two when her family fled to Miami in the wake of the Castro revolution. After nursing her father through a long illness, she met Emilio Estefan and joined his band Miami Sound Machine. They married on her 21st birthday. Since their first hit, "Dr Beat", in 1984, the Estefans have sold more than 60 million records, and have built a mini property empire in Miami. Gloria broke her back in a bus crash in 1990. Her latest single, "Oye", is released next month.

A. I've found the perfect script - a romantic comedy - but I don't want to jinx it by talking about it.

A. Life stories should only be done after the person's dead. Having said that, I hope they get Jennifer Lopez to play me.

A. Only when Castro is out of there. Then I'll do a huge celebratory concert. I think the people there should be free to choose how they want to be governed.

A. If I'm out in the hammock and they're yelling, "Gioria, Gloria", I'm not going to give them the finger. I can usually hear them coming, though, so I can always run for cover.

A. Yeah, she comes round and Lourdes plays with my three-year-old daughter Emily. We talk about being mums, whether the kids are teething, the latest words they've said... The papers say we swap sex tips, which I can assure you we've never done.

A. I sit down with the tax people, meet the accountants and sort out the contracts. Emilio's much more into the creative side. We're hoping to open more branches of Bongo's, our Cuban restaurant chain, and I intend to oversee that.

A. They say I've earned £30 million in the last two years. I don't know where they get their figures from; we don't know the exact figures ourselves.

A. I feel really alive and try to make the most of every moment. I wish I didn't have these titanium rods in my back, but, you know, scars - physical or emotional - are learning experiences. And the fact that I have to exercise every day means I'm in better shape than most women my age.

A. We love each other. That's the bottom line. He spoils me in every way and I trust him completely. He's proved himself to me a million times. Plus, you know, we're still lovers... still very passionate.

A. I've never been curious. Sure, I find other people attractive, but I say why go out for a bad steak when I've got filet mignon at home?

A. I remember having so many responsibilities: trying to be strong for my mother, caring for my father... That's why I'm determined to enjoy myself now. I've lived my life backwards in many ways.

A. Well, I went from having nothing to having everything, so I've tried to instil values in them so they can respect themselves and others and be happy - with or without money. I've been so lucky with Nayib (who's 18), he's a wonderful boy. He does incredible things he doesn't even tell me about.

A. Last Thanksgiving, he went to a homeless shelter and served them dinner. I've seen him take every cent out of his wallet for a beggar.

A. Yes, well, he has dreadlocks, and he plays Nine Inch Nails at full blast in his bedroom. He was expelled from school for impersonating the headmaster down the telephone. But I'm kind of unshockable. If that's as bad as it gets, I can live with it.

A. Yes, her name's Val. She's got the largest catalogue of my stuff - she brings me old 12" singles and promotional items I didn't even know existed. Just about everything in her house is signed by me.

A. You'll be with everyone you love and there's no stress and no death.

A. My home. My favourits room is the loft: it has a movie theatre in it. There are three tiers of Indian opium beds and cushions, so you can lie there and watch films. The other night we were all in there watching "Titanic". I cried and cried. The cushions were soaked.

"Oye" is released on 7 September on Epic.

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