Samuel Johnson once observed, "He who tires of London, tires of life."

He wasn't speaking, of course, of "American Idol" finalist LaToya London. As of last Tuesday night (May 11), at least one judge was beginning to tire of London.

Following her performance of the disco classic "Love You Inside and Out," Simon Cowell told London that despite three months of performances, he still knew nothing about her personality. The next night, London found herself standing on the "American Idol" stage watching one of those sappy videos recapping her life on the popular FOX television show.

Fellow finalists Fantasia Barrino, Diana DeGarmo and Jasmine Trias were bawling. Judge Paula Abdul looked inconsolable, and Randy Jackson looked like he needed a big hug. Only London, the one ready to pack her bags, seemed composed. Expression mostly placid, she smiled occasionally and hugged everybody in sight.

"I was trying to stay strong for everyone, just let them know it's okay," London recalls of her final moments on "Idol." "My career's not ended. I haven't died. It's not a funeral. Just celebrate, celebrate new transformation."

London acknowledges, though, that what she meant as confidence and a philosophical approach to the ups and downs of "American Idol" was read as cold or cocky or boring or aloof by some viewers. She knows that the personality she displayed on the show probably contributed to what many "Idol" fans see as an early exit.

"People want to get to know you," she says. "I don't feel that I really got a chance for America to get to know me in that short time. Under so much pressure, in the situation I was in, that was the personality that came across for me."

Coupled with a voice that many considered to be the best in the competition this season, London was always polite, always articulate and always restrained, even in the face of the rare criticisms she received. She insists that even if viewers tired of the London they saw, there's more to her than that.

"I have different sides to me," she laughs. "Off-camera, I'm a totally different person. I'm not so quiet and smiley-smiley. Sometimes I'm just having a fun time, relaxed."

For a long time, London has known that winning or losing "American Idol" wouldn't mark the end of the road for her. In fact, she says she's honestly ready to move past the show and into the next phase of her career, on to a path that she hopes will include albums and Broadway and movies.

"Maybe because I didn't have that competitive attitude, people didn't vote for me," she says. "I still feel the same way today now that I'm off the show. I'm totally psyched. I'm excited. I can't wait till after tour to start my career."

Try as she might, though, she still can't entirely understand the variety of factors that left her with the fewest votes after Tuesday.

"There are so many factors that could have played into it," says London. "It's hard to say. No one is reading the votes. No one knows how many votes are coming from where and who's casting them."

Although FOX is eager to emphasize that the competitive nature of the "Idol" Battle of the Divas, LaToya's admiration for her fellow competitors is obvious.

"Of course I really love Fantasia's style. I can really identify with it," she says. "Jasmine just blows me away ... she's a little powerhouse. Diana, she is just amazing to be that age with such a powerful voice and to be so seasoned the way she is."

Having spent so long with the three teens, the 25-year-old London stops short of picking a favorite.

"It's hard to say who'll win it. It's just too unpredictable," she notes. "Hey, I thought I was gonna win it."