LOUISE: I WAS LIKE A STEPFORD WIFE
Star confirms she’s living apart from Jamie
LOUISE Redknapp has revealed she became a “Stepford Wife” before Strictly Come Dancing kickstarted her career. The 42-year-old former Eternal singer has confirmed she is living apart from former footballer husband Jamie Redknapp, ending months of speculation. Now preparing to do a UK tour of the musical Cabaret, Louise said prioritising her career to appear in Strictly was “the first selfish thing I’d done since my kids were born”. The star, mum to Charley, 13, and Beau, nine, explained: “I’d been asked to do it before but always said no because I’ve never missed one of the kids’ matches, carol services, pick-ups, drop-offs or assemblies, as well as being there to give them dinner.
“I became a sort of Stepford Wife, wanting to be perfect at it. It was only when I agreed to do Strictly that I realised I couldn’t just go back to that.
“I didn’t want to continue running around after everyone else, and occasionally promoting a yogurt or doing a little TV job.
“I wanted to sing, I wanted to perform. I wanted to go back to work in front of an audience.”
Louise also revealed that she spoke to her sons about her decision: “I explained that it was important to do something in your life that made you happy. That I might miss a few school events. That I wouldn’t always be there to make their tea. They were both like, ‘That’s OK, Mum, we get it.’”
She added: “I feel I’m coming back to who I really am. I have spent most of my life pleasing everyone else, worrying about being judged.
“I think this happens to a lot of women when they get married and have children. You have this feeling deep inside you, ‘Where did I go?’”
Jamie, 44, was photographed at the Dunhill Links Championship golf tournament in St Andrews yesterday without his wedding ring – though Louise still wears hers.