Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake

Jessica Biel says maintaining her individuality is important for her in relationships.

The actress, who is engaged to Justin Timberlake, admitted that she often conforms to the other person's lifestyle when she finds love.

She said: ''In my earlier experiences with relationships, I really was vulnerable to somebody else's personality, hobbies, and way of life.

''But as I've gotten older, I've become proud of the traits that make me who I am. Maintaining my individuality is really important to me because otherwise I can easily slip into somebody else's life. So I'm glad I'm getting better at it. It's a process, but it's getting simpler.''

Jessica has previously dated actor Chris Evans and sportsman Derek Jeter.

She added to the August 2012 InStyle magazine: ''One of the keys to a happy relationship is letting go of the little stuff. You can't let it get to you. You need to make time for your partner.

The 'Total Recall' star continued: ''Justin and I have a rule that we don't let a certain amount of time go by without seeing each other, but it doesn't always work. Sometimes you are both working and it just happens. But from here on out, I want to participate in making smart choices for the relationship.''

© Bang Showbiz