Beyonce.

Beyonce loves to make people feel as if they're getting a treat.

That's why she has agreed to give a free concert at Dundas Square tonight (8 p.m.), despite the fact she obviously could sell out any local arena in a heartbeat.

"I love to tour and I love when things are planned and organized and I have my set, but it's nothing like making people feel like they're special and getting a treat," Beyonce said yesterday at a downtown Toronto hotel. "They (the fans at a free show) are so appreciative. There are people who maybe couldn't afford to see you in concert, so it's a more universal crowd."

What Beyonce likes most of all, however, is showing up unannounced and performing.

"I really love being the surprise," said the 25-year-old former member of Destiny's Child whose new CD, B-Day, was released earlier this month and already has topped the charts in the U.S.

"(Frequent collaborator) Jay-Z will ask, 'Can you come out and do Crazy In Love, and no one will know, and then I come out and the people are just ... it's like night and day. People are grateful when you do a performance and they pay to see you, but when they feel like they're getting something extra, it feels like you're giving somebody a gift."

Beyonce is planning a traditional tour that will start in April.

"I have a meeting next week to discuss if I'm going to Europe first, or Japan, or America, or Canada," she said. "Of course, I'm going to come here (to Toronto). But I just have to figure out the routing, because I did the movie for six months and then went straight into the studio."

The "movie" to which Beyonce referred is the highly anticipated Dreamgirls, an adaptation of the 1981 Broadway musical that also stars Jennifer Hudson (from American Idol), Jamie Foxx, Danny Glover and Eddie Murphy.

'Incredible film'

The story loosely is based on the Supremes, with Beyonce in the Diana Ross role.

"I think it's going to be one of the biggest things for black movies," Beyonce said. "It has an incredible cast and it's an incredible film, so classy and timeless and shot so well and directed so smart. I just was lucky to be a part of it."

In a recent interview with the Toronto Sun, singer-songwriter John Mayer stated that he always wants the word "musician" to come before a slash -- as in, musician/actor, or musician/comedian - when people describe him. With Beyonce's singing and acting careers going forward at full steam simultaneously, she was asked if she agrees with Mayer.

"I do ... right now ... well, you know what, to be honest? I don't feel that way," Beyonce said. "It's kind of weird because I'm way more experienced in music and way more confident, because it's what I know. But I don't like being in the same place. I think that's why I started doing movies, to get outside my comfort zone. But I was very nervous at first, thinking, 'They're going to realize they made a mistake.' "

Beyonce's first major film role was in Austin Powers In Goldmember from 2002. She smiled yesterday when reminded she was in the hometown of her co-star in that flick, Mike Myers.

While Beyonce has a lot of singing and acting on her plate right now, she also has recognized some boundaries.

"I don't want to produce any other artists (who aren't personal friends) because I'm way too uncomfortable and shy," she said.

"I don't really see myself having my own record label. I think I could be a good A&R person, but I would do it just for fun, for certain artists that I like. Of course, my mom and I have a clothing line, but I don't design. I just approve and give my two cents.

"But I do think eventually, once I get older, hopefully I'll be married and have some children and learn to cook. I'm also a frustrated hairstylist and a frustrated painter, so I do want to take some art classes and learn another language ... just normal things, I guess."

Normal is a word that rarely gets used when describing Beyonce.