Cheryl Fernandez-Versini glad she isn't famous in US as she needs to go where she "can be free"

In an interview with ES Magazine, Cheryl said: "I never had an American Dream ... I've had opportunities to sign a solo US deal that I didn't take ... I couldn't bear to think of being famous worldwide ... I like to go to places where I'm not known, where I can be free."

Cheryl did sign up to be a judge on the American version of 'The X Factor' in 2011 but was fired from the pop star search show just a few weeks in, allegedly by text message, by boss Simon Cowell.

The former Girls Aloud star - who returned to the judging panel of the UK 'X Factor' last year - accepts Simon had to let her go as she was in a "dark place" following the end of her marriage to soccer player Ashley Cole in 2010 and wasn't up to starring on the programme.

Cheryl - who is married to Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini - said: "I was running away from so much stuff in my life in the UK, I took the job ... I was suffering from a lot of things - heartache, confusion - I was in a dark place. It was definitely handled the wrong way. I've made (Simon) fully aware of that."