Anna Nicole Smith reached out to troubled pop princess Britney Spears in a video message asking if the two could be friends, an American magazine claims.

The tragic former Playboy model, who died mysteriously in Florida two weeks ago, recorded the tape in September when she and the now bald singer were both eight months pregnant, according to Us Weekly.

In her message to the young mother Smith reportedly said: "If you see this for some oddball reason... and you want to be friends, I would love so much to hang out with you.

"I think you're totally cool, and I think we're about to have babies around the same time... I would just love to meet you."

She then apparently told Spears to call her lawyer and companion Howard Stern, before concluding: "Take cares, and I hope that you do great on your second pregnancy.

"I'm sure you won't even see this, but if you do, I'd really love to talk to you. Bye."
But a source told the magazine the pair never met.

Their babies, Dannielynn and Jayden James, were born five days apart in September. Three days after giving birth to Dannielynn, Smith was hit by tragedy when her 20-year-old son Daniel died as he visited her in hospital.

In November, mother-of-two Spears filed for divorce from wannabe rapper Kevin Federline, and embarked on a partying spree that attracted concern and criticism.

Last week she entered rehab for a day before shocking fans by shaving off her own hair and getting two new tattoos. She has reportedly left another treatment centre, again after just one day.