US songstress Taylor Swift insists she only gets "wild" when she's performing on stage.

The 'I Knew You Were Trouble' hitmaker likes to remain grounded when she's not in the spotlight, and prefers to stay at home than go on wild nights out.

Speaking to OK! magazine, she revealed: ''I'm not a party girl. I love performing on stage, that's where I can really come alive and get a bit wild, but in private I want to live more quietly. I want to live a good life, make good choices, and be good to the people I love and stay close to my friends.''

Swift, 23, knows the nature of the industry too well, and is conscious of her image.

She continued: ''Sometimes people tell me that I'm young and I should be going out more, having fun, making mistakes and being more selfish. The trouble is, if I mess up there'll be six months of headlines afterwards.''

The blonde beauty: " I spent every day of the summer working in the studio and then spent evenings with my friends, so that was my way of getting back to a normal life. That keeps things in focus for me." Watch Swift's New Years Eve performance here: