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Rihanna's Sick Day Explained: "I Never Gave Myself the Chance to Recover"

Singer tells E! News she's feeling "a lot better" at the premiere of Battleship after getting sidelined with the flu last week

By Gina Serpe May 11, 2012 6:46 PMTags
Watch: Rihanna Reveals Secret On-Set Crush

Rihanna took the sick day heard 'round the world last weekend, but she was back, recovered and better than ever at last night's premiere of her presumptive summer blockbuster Battleship.

So what was the deal on her headline-grabbing sidelining? Apparently, an abundance of drive isn't always the healthiest of pursuits...

"I'm a lot better, thank you for asking," she told E! News. "I just had the flu and I never gave myself the chance to recover. But I took a couple days, rested. And now I'm here.

"I always deny myself [rest]," she said.

Meanwhile, her excitement over her new project (and her new project's costars) is clearly helping her get her mojo back.

"I'm very excited and very nervous at the same time. I definitely have some butterflies. I can't wait."

And while it may not always be the most prudent move to play favorites, Rihanna clearly has a preference among her male-heavy cast—and the feeling, apparently, is mutual.

"I love Liam Neeson," she told E! News, after being relayed the tidbit that her costar declared his love for her on the carpet. "I don't know if I'm going to be able to focus now that you've said this. This is incredible. This is great news."