Nicole Richie on Her Past, Future and Changing Her Life

Aug. 3, 2007 — -- In an exclusive interview with Diane Sawyer, Nicole Richie talked about life, love, pregnancy, poor decisions and the future. Richie, the adopted daughter of pop-legend Lionel Richie, is best known for her role as a rich and out-of-control co-star of reality TV's "The Simple Life."

With four arrests, several stints in rehab and a four-day jail sentence waiting to be served, Richie said she is finally ready to make a commitment to change. A change, she says, that is supported and nurtured by her boyfriend of eight months, Joel Madden, lead singer in the alternative-rock band Good Charlotte, and father to her unborn child. Richie says her pregnancy played a large role in her decision to change the way she lives.

Within a month of meeting Richie, through a mutual friend at a party, Madden says he was in love. "There's no way you can't fall in love with her when you get to know her." Madden's love comes with a cognizance of Richie's past: "I think that there was a carelessness that she had that I think she realizes now and … it's not the Nicole I know, you know. The Nicole I know is, is right here."

Although Richie and Madden say marriage is not imminent, a commitment to their relationship and unborn child is ever present. "I kind of feel like we should focus on the baby. The most important thing is, we both know we're not going anywhere. We're really excited about the baby. We're excited about being parents and actually together, learning how to be parents together," Madden said.

In the past, Richie says she rebelled against being a role model. "I did not want to be a role model. And because I didn't want to be, I really fought it. And whenever I made mistakes, at times I didn't even really feel bad for them."

Now, with a new perspective and a plan to lead a healthy and respectable life, Richie is embracing the role. "I want my child to look up to me and be proud of me, and I want to be the best parent that I can be," she said.