When you went to school with a celebrity and they lie about their story

[threeisacharm18]

I was listening to a pop star who was being interviewed and heard them tell some blatant lies about their background.

They claimed to never have gone to drama school or had any industry connections and miraculously was scouted.

I know this to be a complete lie. I was so surprised as to why they would lie this way. It makes no sense. It's been 20 years. No one cares that much so why lie... ?

I guess they were trying to flog something so maybe it the 'struggle story' sells better

I know! I’ve said that twice! The “why does she need to lie” was a turn of phrase, not a question. I type like I speak. Miscommunication- all good.

For women, ageism is rife in many careers. I know this. You can stop preaching to me now.

In the end, if anyone is lying about age or other things that don't impact on anyone else, does it really matter in the big scheme of life?

I have forgotten the words for several fruit and veg before. My issue is perimenopause though rather than delusions of being Spanish.

Those questioning Kelly brook's age - that does check out. She was on bb when I was doing my GCSE's aged 15 And she was only 18 - famously very young. That's why she wasn't very good probably. I'm now 40 so she will be around 43/44!

Sporty Spice was always open about being from Widnes.

I actually think 44 is about right. She was 19 when starting Big Breakfast and had been around a few years by then (shocking to think, but since 16 is right). So born in late 1979 does fit.

My late aunt in law was at school with a famous/infamous news reader. Out of prison now.

He massaged/was fluid about his age before his fall from grace. His correct age is on wiki.

Although it's undeniably funny, I do find it fascinating. It's the sort of thing you might do when you're 10. Make up a little story to make yourself sound more interesting among your friends. But for an adult to think it's acceptable to A. Lie so blatantly, and B. Think they could get away with it when they're known world wide is completely bizarre! Imagine the effort of putting that accent on all the time. I would say it's a deep seated personality disorder really.

Holly Willougby by any chance,?
I remember reading that she was the actual school bully

Savile. He had a go at my friend in his caravan at a big radio one roadshow that came to Wales. She was 14.

She came out screaming and shaking. Luckily my husband and friends were camping there for the sailing regatta as was she so they looked after her . Evil man.

Because a few of us would be saying things that would potentially be libellous. MN would have to delete the thread before we all found ourselves having to hire barristers, and all for the sake of having a bit of unverified gossip from a complete stranger off the internet.

When my MIL died we discovered via the death certificate that she had knocked three years off her age presumably because she was older than FIL.

It meant that she got all her pensioners money Etc three years late we never got to celebrate special birthdays at the right time.

Re celebrities I think some of it can be laid at the agents door who sell all kinds of rubbish to the media. Then the individual is stuck with it.

Some of the early publicity for take that shaved a couple of years off Howard & Jasons's ages but it was rectified by the time they made it big in 1993 as I suppose they weren't the ones 13 year olds were fantasising about!

Has no one mentioned Jack Monroe and her ever-changing backstory? Initially she had a relatively average (although some might say privileged) upbringing and fell into poverty when she had to leave her job due to child care (legitimate concern for lots of families and women) but then the grift got silly with her and basically made out she was Oliver Twist, on top of a whole heap of other trauma piled on.

Yes! Her relationship with the truth seems quite loose... if she was consistent it would be one thing, but she picks up and puts down stories and identities every few months. Wasn't she trans for about ten minutes a few years ago?

My Grandmother was always a year older than she really was and her marriage date was changed otherwise her first child would have been born at 15yo when she was unmarried.

Until the women’s march was a huge thing, and she said she identified as a woman again, iirc!
Any identity that will get her cash and attention, I suspect.

I have a friend who shared the same date and year of birth as Catherine Zeta-Jones. The friend aged by a year every birthday. CZJ stopped once she became mega famous and stuck at 41 for a surprisingly long time.

All the fake ages are a product of the fact that age matters when women are in the public eye. You can't blame them really. Meryl Streep tells a great story about how she was only offered roles as witches the year she turned 40. Other less brilliant actresses find there's no work at all.

My friend has been a jobbing actress all her life. She's done a few things you'll have seen. She never became "famous" but she always had work, but was pretty much forced to retire at 40.

That’s what I thought.

This - nasty uncalled for comment

I went to school with someone who has had very minor success as an actor and for a very long time her Wiki page said that she was at least 3 years younger than me when actually she's a few months older (it was a pretty fluid date of birth!) and even younger than her younger brother who was also at our school......

Cliff was born in 1940. He's never lied about his age

The mother of a reasonably well known actress was a friend of my parents. She related the story of how her daughter (the actress) attended a party in London and noticed a well known fashion designer across the room (this will be the 90s). The actress crossed the room, introduced herself and commented how they were from the same Northern area (think next town along). the fashion designer I am told stopped any conversation and moved on across the room.