The classic brunette beauty was born September 25, 1969, to a candy ― or as it is known in her native Wales ‘sweets’ ― factory owner and a seamstress. The only girl in the family, she is flanked by two brothers.
At 23, she became a household name in the United Kingdom for her star turn as Mariette in the comedy-drama set on a farm, “The Darling Buds of May.”
She met television host John Leslie, one of her first public relationships, at a gig of the pop singer Chesney Hawkes as her star rose in 1991. The liaison reportedly fell apart after 18 months because she wanted to start a family, and he did not.
Hawkes has said in hindsight that she was “the most beautiful woman” he had “ever seen.” She was the only woman he ever loved. “We’ll always be mates,” he asserted.
Her next tryst was more contentious; she was caught kissing her co-star Paul McGann, a married dad of one, in his car. McGann denied the smooch but admitted the incident “rattled” his marriage, which he returned to. Their TV movie “Catherine the Great” was released in 1995.
She was convinced she found the love of her life in “Braveheart” star Angus Macfadyen, to whom she got engaged. The Scottish actor called off the engagement after 15 months in 1996.
The brunette inspired another proposal, this time from Hollywood producer Jon Peters, but she turned him down. In a tell-all book in which he collaborated, he claims they had a “torrid, shock-the-neighbors affair.”
The Swansea-born performer was briefly entangled with “It’s Only Love” singer Mick Hucknall in 1998. The Simply Red frontman called off the fling after only four months….CONTINUE READING