Louise Redknapp has explained why she’s no longer living with her husband Jamie.
The 42-year-old has revealed how appearing on Strictly Come Dancing last year forced her to revaluate her life and think about herself for once.
Speaking to The Telegraph’s Stella magazine about her separation from Jamie, Louise said, “He’s an amazing man and we’ve had 20 good years together. I know he’s trying to understand that I do need to do this.”
“People might look at me and think I’ve got everything, but a sweeping staircase and designer handbag doesn’t really do it for me.”
“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 and thinking I should always do the right thing by staying at home, looking after my kids and my husband. I lost myself.”
“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?’ But I pushed those thoughts away. I’d think of my past life as a pop star as being ‘not reality’. Looking after the house and my family was my reality.”
The couple, who have been married since 1998, are parents to two children Beau (8) and Charlie (13).
Although they’re now living apart, Louise has insisted that neither of them are pushing for a divorce.
“I have no idea what is going to happen, all I know is that I fought for this, it’s taken everything, but this is something I need to do – for me.”
The former pop star also thanked her new pal Daisy Lowe, who also starred on Strictly last year, for helping her to regain her confidence.
“Daisy is a mate who is an incredible cheerleader at a time when I’ve needed a lot of support. Daisy loves other women and she’s all about body confidence.”
“She completely believes in following your passion and fulfilling yourself as a woman, which I find really inspiring. It has made me realise how controlled I’ve been about the way I thought about myself for so long.”
Louise has recently re-launched her singing career, and is currently playing Sally Bowles in Rufus Norris’ production of Cabaret.
“I’d become a Stepford Wife, wanting to be perfect at it,” she said. “It was only when I agreed to do Strictly Come Dancing that I realised I couldn’t just go back to that.”
