Friday, 9 May 2008

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Gwen Stefani

Former No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani has gone from strength to strength after launching her solo career in 2004

Name Gwen Stefani

Birth name Gwen Renée Stefani

Date of birth 3 October 1969

Star sign Libra

Birthplace Fullerton, California, USA

Height 5ft 7in

Eye colour Brown

Marriages Gavin Rossdale, 14 September 2002

Children Kingston James McGregor Rossdale, born 26 May 2006

Biography

Rocker-turned-fashion trendsetter Gwen Stefani shot to stardom as the frontwoman of No Doubt before turning solo.

Born in Fullerton, California, Gwen scrubbed floors at US fast-food chain Dairy Queen before attending California State University. She agreed to join her brother Eric’s band, No Doubt, as second vocalist but took the lead vocals in 1987 when frontman John Spence committed suicide at just 18.

Despite being dropped by their record label, Interscope, when their 1992 debut album flopped, the band continued with their pop-ska fusion and released Tragic Kingdom in 1995 after the label had given them one more shot. The album sold more than 15 million copies worldwide, primarily due to the success of hit single Don’t Speak, which won a 1997 MTV Video Music Award.

Standing out with her platinum-blonde hair, blood-red lips and midriff-baring outfits, Gwen became a household name when she wed Bush rocker boyfriend Gavin Rossdale in 2002 and picked up two Grammys for No Doubt’s Rock Steady album.

Her increased profile allowed Gwen to branch out into solo projects – including a film role as Jean Harlow in The Aviator (2003), a clothing line, L.A.M.B., and her first solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004), after which People magazine dubbed her “the new Madonna”.

After giving birth to a son, Kingston, in 2002, Gwen released The Sweet Escape album in late 2005, which notably featured her yodelling on hit single Wind It Up. She also launched a line of limited-edition dolls inspired by her Japanese dancers, The Harajuku Girls. After selling more than 30 million albums worldwide, she announced she was expecting Gavin’s second child in January 2008.

Quotes
(On her marriage)
‘Its one of those mad love affairs that you can’t live with and you can’t live without, and you just keep going and going.’ (The Observer, 5 August 2007)

‘I just never felt the need as far as talking about my sexuality, feeling sexy, or wanted to express sex in any way. I would be too embarrassed. It always seemed like such a private thing to me.’ (The Washington Post, 15 June 1997)

‘I was a fat little nerdy kid who desperately wanted to be cool… inside my head I’m still that little geek struggling to make people like me.’ (Mail On Sunday, 4 March 2007)

‘I’m really emotional. I don’t fight with people – like, I can barely fight with my husband because I’ll just start crying instead… period week, I cry a lot.’ (The Observer, 30 January 2005)

‘I go through waves of cravings with food just like everyone else. I get into my healthy fitness rage and I take care of myself really good, then I’m like, “Hurray, let’s go get pizza.”’ (The Mirror, 24 December 2004)