Britney Spears's 'Everytime' video originally more grim

Remember Britney Spears's 2004 "Everytime" video, which featured the singer seemingly committing suicide? Turns out the disturbing mini-drama was originally intended to be even more grim.

"There was an original video, too, which was a lot darker," Stephen Dorff, who played Spears's abusive boyfriend, tells MTV News. "It was, like, much more like a suicide-type video with pills and wine. It was a little dark, probably, for the fans. She originally died in the video, and then in this video she wakes up in the end."

Spears survives thanks to Dorff, who jumps fully clothed into a bathtub to save the drowning star.

"That was my idea," reveals the 37-year-old actor, who is currently earning raves in the Sofia Coppola drama "Somewhere." "I knew I had to save her in the bathtub, but it was my idea to go in with the shoes and the jeans and just kind of find her. First they had me change into my boxers. I was like, 'I don't think he has time. She's dying.' So I just go in."

Though he hasn't seen Spears in years, Dorff says he enjoyed working with the 29-year-old pop princess. "She was very nice. She thanked me for doing it early in the day," he says. "She was very sweet."