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Original poster

Famous people.

211 replies

Beautifulbutterfly22 · 30/08/2021 18:16

Has anyone ever went to school/worked with or just knew before they became famous? Just wondering as I don't know anybody who is famous 😀 and what were they like ?

OP posts:
AdoptedBumpkin · 31/08/2021 21:38

@KeeOe Google suggests it must be Ant, as Dec went to a boys' Catholic school?

So...did the hilarious incident relate to a notorious Byker Grove paintball battle? Smile

vintagenurse · 31/08/2021 21:39

I was in the same school year as David Gandy, the male model. He was quite quiet, clever, polite. Wouldn't have guessed he would become a model though!

Expo · 31/08/2021 21:42

@vintagenurse oooo that’s a good one [swoon]

IdrisArslanian · 31/08/2021 22:52

@vintagenurse - was he not extremely good looking even then?

hocusspocuss · 01/09/2021 09:06

@KeeOe

I went to senior school with someone who is very, very well known now and has been for a very long (20 years plus) time. I'm from Newcastle and I'm 45 if that gives anyone a hint.

I have a few snippets about them but nothing earth-shattering or particularly outrageous. Pretty normal lad tbh. Bit nerdy, had a thing for Playpeople figurines who he named and brought to classes with him.

There was a hilarious incident after he became fairly well known for the first thing he did but out of respect I won't share it here. It was absolutely hysterical though and still makes me laugh to this day.

'I CANNAE SEE, MAN'
HauteGirlSummer · 01/09/2021 09:21

Went to Uni with a girl who's now a 'pop' star in America. She's had so much work done to her body and face I almost didn't recognise her at first. All she talked about whilst we were at uni was how she wants to move to America and be famous at all costs. So I guess she's made it.

HeronLanyon · 01/09/2021 09:26

Remembered went to school with sky arts painting judge k soriano. Was shocked when I saw her on screen. No idea at all in any way shape or form that she would become so successful in arts/gallery leadership positions (national portrait gallery etc). Good to see.

Jessiekate33 · 01/09/2021 10:43

@NeonJellyBaby I used to know Tracy Shaw a bit, as she's local to me. She's very nice but kept herself firmly to herself. So incredibly beautiful to look at as well...very striking. She did heaps of PTA stuff at one of our local primaries.

x2boys · 01/09/2021 12:00

[quote Jessiekate33]@NeonJellyBaby I used to know Tracy Shaw a bit, as she's local to me. She's very nice but kept herself firmly to herself. So incredibly beautiful to look at as well...very striking. She did heaps of PTA stuff at one of our local primaries. [/quote]
I watch classic corrie, its currently 1999,and shes starring as maxine, she is/was extradinarily beautiful.

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 01/09/2021 12:48

@Elderflower14 AOC? Yes

@KimDeals she was a bit eccentric, really good fun, bit of a hippy and very individual.

Jessiekate33 · 01/09/2021 12:54

She really is @x2boys. She came to my house once to pick up one of her sons and it was surreal. This gorgeous, slender vision standing in my messy hall, surrounded by book bags and football boots Grin

theDudesmummy · 01/09/2021 13:11

The very famous (and very visually recognisable) lead singer of a hugely successful English electronic punk band of the 1990s was a stepdad at our school when my daughters were at secondary school. He and the kid's mum, who is also a famous member of a 90s band, were at a school function with us (I recognised him, but not her until it was pointed out to me who she was).

DH is clueless about most music other than 70s and 80s light pop, and a few classic rock ballads. He cares nothing for fame, being cool, or what anyone else thinks of his taste. He didn't recognise the guy at all, and being polite, he asked the standard question "so what do you do?". The music star was clearly highly incensed, said through gritted teeth "I'm a musician" and then left. DH asked me, why did he behave like that? I said don't you know he is the lead singer of xxx? He said no, who are they? Bless him!

FlowerPower3110 · 01/09/2021 13:28

I went to school with Emilia Clarke. I don't know her very well as we had different friend groups, but from what I remember she was a friendly girl. She loved participating in school plays.

HalleLouja · 01/09/2021 13:29

@theDudesmummy

The very famous (and very visually recognisable) lead singer of a hugely successful English electronic punk band of the 1990s was a stepdad at our school when my daughters were at secondary school. He and the kid's mum, who is also a famous member of a 90s band, were at a school function with us (I recognised him, but not her until it was pointed out to me who she was).

DH is clueless about most music other than 70s and 80s light pop, and a few classic rock ballads. He cares nothing for fame, being cool, or what anyone else thinks of his taste. He didn't recognise the guy at all, and being polite, he asked the standard question "so what do you do?". The music star was clearly highly incensed, said through gritted teeth "I'm a musician" and then left. DH asked me, why did he behave like that? I said don't you know he is the lead singer of xxx? He said no, who are they? Bless him!

Prodigy and All Saints?
Seiheiki · 01/09/2021 13:56

I know a very well known author, academic and rad fem media personality. We went to uni together. She's often cited on here, great friends with JK Rowling. She does incredible work, but dramatises and lies through her back teeth on a daily basis. Arrogant and dismissive.

theDudesmummy · 01/09/2021 14:15

@HalleLouja I didn't disguise them very well!

IntermittentParps · 01/09/2021 14:28

I know/have met a few slebs, but only after they became famous.

HalleLouja · 01/09/2021 15:00

This aren’t mine so I will loosely disguise them.

Someone who judges in BGT and was known for rapping went to school with a friend and apparently wasn’t pleasant.

Also a Welsh singing sensation who is more on the classical music side, was very focused on being famous from a young age and also not the most friendly.

BikeRunSki · 01/09/2021 15:50

For a period in the 1980s, DM was friends with Anthony Hopkins. I would quite often find him drinking tea in our kitchen. He is very kind, very generous, rather humble and his voice is beautiful.

hocusspocuss · 01/09/2021 16:44

@theDudesmummy

The very famous (and very visually recognisable) lead singer of a hugely successful English electronic punk band of the 1990s was a stepdad at our school when my daughters were at secondary school. He and the kid's mum, who is also a famous member of a 90s band, were at a school function with us (I recognised him, but not her until it was pointed out to me who she was).

DH is clueless about most music other than 70s and 80s light pop, and a few classic rock ballads. He cares nothing for fame, being cool, or what anyone else thinks of his taste. He didn't recognise the guy at all, and being polite, he asked the standard question "so what do you do?". The music star was clearly highly incensed, said through gritted teeth "I'm a musician" and then left. DH asked me, why did he behave like that? I said don't you know he is the lead singer of xxx? He said no, who are they? Bless him!

This is so weird to me because all the famous people I know love it when people don't know who they are! I am friends with nice ones tho.
Joystir59 · 01/09/2021 16:53

I lived across the road from the Jacksons so knew them.when they were working very hard to become famous. They didn't play out much because they were always practising their music. I was jealous of all the times they stayed out til really late cos they were performing at clubs and weddings and stuff. They pretty much kept themselves to themselves. Their parents were very ambitious and very musical- they were the only family in.our neck of the woods that had a piano. Not your average kids.

weebarra · 01/09/2021 16:53

I was in halls at uni with a popular chef and restaurateur who was nice and very posh. Same uni and my roommate was good friends with a bbc political journalist. She was a bit up herself.

mrstea301 · 01/09/2021 17:01

@SukiPook

My brother's an actor and novelist, and his wife's an actor too. She's more well known.. The Split and lots of other good things. I suppose he would have been best known for being in Primeval. If anyone remembers A Young Person's Guide to Being a Rockstar, he was the lead in that when he was a young'un in the 90s. He was in one Rimmel ad shortly after that where he had to kiss Kate Moss, so at the time he got a lot of recognition in our home town by envious lads his own age 😀. But he's not famous famous, by any means, especially not now. Which is good! I bet it would be highly annoying. He's well known in our home town. Oh yes his friend also from our town is v well known now cause of Line of Duty, and much more famous. Good old Aidy Dunbar aka Ted Hastings, catching bent coppers!
I loved A Young Persons Guide to Being a Rockstar!! My sister used to be friends with Stephen McCole.
Sickasadoggy · 01/09/2021 17:10

Ant Grin

Iamthewombat · 01/09/2021 17:27

@Joystir59

I lived across the road from the Jacksons so knew them.when they were working very hard to become famous. They didn't play out much because they were always practising their music. I was jealous of all the times they stayed out til really late cos they were performing at clubs and weddings and stuff. They pretty much kept themselves to themselves. Their parents were very ambitious and very musical- they were the only family in.our neck of the woods that had a piano. Not your average kids.
I know just what you mean. I was always seeing Barry Manilow in The Hacienda before he was famous. It opened in 1982, about eight years after he had a worldwide hit with ‘Mandy’. He and Bette Midler lived in a flat in Stockport and were entirely anonymous, being not at all famous in the 1980s.

Just like you seeing Michael Jackson in Studio 54 (opened 1977, seven years after the Jackson 5’s first global hit) before he was famous.