Denise Van Outen: Celebrate clean-living stars like Leona Lewis, not druggies like Amy Winehouse

Denise Van Outen has called for Leona Lewis to be celebrated more than stars like Amy Winehouse.

Van Outen compared the attention the former X Factor winner receives with that paid to people who are struggling with drugs.

The West End star, who is dating Any Dream Will Do winner Lee Mead, told Cosmopolitan: "I couldn't believe it when I opened the paper the other day and saw a massive picture of Amy Winehouse, completely off her face.

"What bothered me was that in the corner was a tiny story congratulating Leona Lewis for storming the US charts.

"If you ask me, we should be bigging her up, not people who are struggling with drugs.

"God, and to think I thought I was wild when I was younger.

"Now I hear stories and I'm like, 'I'd never do that!"'

Van Outen also revealed why having a relationship with a man aged in his 20s was right for her.

She said: "Personally ... a man in his 20s works for me.

"In my experience, single men in their mid to late 30s tend to be single for a reason. The good ones get snapped up."

Speaking about her past, she continued: "There have been times where I've been too much to handle for the men in my life.

"In fact, some of my previous relationships have ended because I haven't been needy enough.

Denise believes drug-free Leona Lewis (left) should be given more media coverage than drug-addict Amy Winehouse

"It's all too easy to attack WAGs for being gold-diggers but, believe me, there are plenty of men who need that type of girl."

Talking about the life lessons she has learned, Van Outen told Cosmopolitan she would kill to go back to the West End show Tell Me On A Sunday.

She said: "Appreciate everything you have now.

"I (once) did a one-woman show called Tell Me On A Sunday in the West End for two years, which was written for me by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

"And you know what's funny? Right now, I'd kill to go back and do that again - but, at the time, it was just work.

"It taught me that I should learn to love the here and now because in a couple of years I'm going to look back on it as the best time of my life."

Commenting on what makes her happy, the singer said: "True confidence comes from knowing exactly what you do - and don't - want out of life.

"For me, that came with age...

"Now, I know how to make myself happy - like if I'm in a bad mood, I'll stick on I'm In The Mood For Dancing by The Nolans and dance around my flat."

The full interview appears in the July issue of Cosmopolitan magazine, on sale on Thursday.