LOUISE Redknapp has had a transformation.
It might be her newly-dyed blonde hair, the fact she turned 50, or perhaps it’s that – eight years after her marriage collapsed – she has finally found love again.
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Whatever the reason, this is a very different and much more confident Louise to the one we have met the last few times she’s been on our cover.
“I’ve been through a lot,” she agrees. “I’m working on it. It’s not easy. But I’m learning every day that you need to love yourself. I’ve finally realised it’s all right to fight for yourself and, if you don’t love you, then you will be useless to everyone else.”
It’s fair to say that Louise’s self-esteem plummeted in the wake of her high-profile divorce from former footballer Jamie Redknapp – the father of her sons, Charley, 20, and Beau, 16 – in 2017, after two decades together.
I’ve been through a lot… it’s not easy
Louise Redknapp
Two years later, Jamie moved on with Swedish model Frida Andersson.
The couple married in 2021 and had a son Raphael, now three.
Meanwhile, Louise dated a few men, but no one serious, until she met Drew Michael, a businessman nine years her junior, in October 2023.
While it is clear this is partly the reason behind her new-found confidence, much of her latest album Confession is about learning to love herself again.
“There are some dancey tracks on the album and some real honest tracks, too,” she says.
“There’s one called Don’t Kill My Vibe and, lyrically, it’s the rawest I’ve ever been. It’s not about anyone, I’m just going to make that clear. It’s about me. It’s not about circumstance, situation or anyone. It’s just about a female finding herself again and building a little bit of a new life.”
The track Manifesting, however, is inspired by Drew, whom she met through a mutual friend.
“It’s hard putting your personal life out there,” she says. “But I am very reactive and tend to write how I am feeling at that very moment.
“Drew’s great. We’re having a lovely time together. It took me a long time to get to that place and be open about anything. I was very guarded and scared. But I’m really enjoying having special times with someone. He’s a great guy and super-kind.”
Those close to Louise are delighted that she has found love with Drew, 41, who has also bonded with her sons.
“What’s great is he’s brilliant on a friendship level with the boys,” she says, smiling. “They get on great with him. And that, for me, is super-important. There’s just a real mutual respect there. Obviously Beau is still at school, but we spend a lot of time together.”
The nine-year age gap inevitably led to Drew being described as her “toyboy” and Louise being referred to as a “cougar”. But it’s “water off a duck’s back,” she says.
It’s not that big of an age gap – I don’t feel a lot older than him and I don’t behave older
Louise Redknapp
“I do think when the guy is slightly younger than the woman, it seems to really be picked up on. It’s what it is. I expect people to comment. It’s not that big of an age gap. I don’t feel a lot older than him and I don’t behave older,” she laughs.
“For me, age is irrelevant – within reason – but he’s not 22. I think it’s more about the person and the life experiences and the connection that’s important.”
And could there be wedding bells?
“Oh, I’m not even thinking that far ahead. I’m not even going there. Manifesting is a real hint to Drew. I’m not going to lie and say it isn’t. But it’s also a life lesson to be present in the here and now, so I’m not thinking down the line. I’m enjoying my relationship, my kids, my album and my life.
“It’s so weird, because this is the only industry where if you meet someone new, everybody has an opinion. Everyone knows about it and you know there’s going to be judgement. But actually, I just want to be proud of this and I want to really enjoy it. I’ve met a really great guy and I’m really happy. But you never know what the future holds.”
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She nods when we suggest she’s in her “f**k it” era.
And it might be because she’s got some impressive producers working with her on this album – including Jon Shave, who produced Charli XCX’s award-winning album Brat, Kylie’s producer Anya Jones, as well as the team behind Madonna, Mabel and Perrie Edwards.
“I am totally unapologetic,” she admits. “But if the music wasn’t good, I might be more apologetic about it. But the music is good. I’ve worked with a Grammy-award-winning producer. I’m holding my own. I’m enjoying it. I’m gonna have my own ‘Brat summer’.”
People will come to their own conclusions [about the meaning of songs] and that’s quite tough
Louise Redknapp
Louise certainly seems to be embracing “Brat” – a term coined by Charli XCX that means being confidently rebellious and playfully defiant.
We even get to hear her making “sex noises” on her track Get Into It. What did her boys think of it?
“They’re really mild noises,” she says.
“My sons heard it actually. On the remix version, they’re a bit less. . . So, I’m like: ‘Play that one.’”
In the past, Louise would always be cautious when it came to lyrics, panicking that people would read into meaning behind her words in her own life – but with Confessions, she decided she no longer cares.
“Even on the last album, I was so worried about saying the wrong thing or speaking honestly about how I felt. Every word gets picked apart and put back together, so you tread on eggshells a bit.
“With this album, I just didn’t let any of that faze me. I was really honest. It’s about being female and strong and enjoying life and coming at things from a different angle.
I obviously don’t believe I was the sexiest woman of the decade
Louise Redknapp
“People will come to their own conclusions [about the meaning of songs] and that’s quite tough. But I’m a realist as well, so I expect it. I’m the most honest person and I went into the process with the attitude that I’m just gonna bloody do this and I’m gonna sing my heart out and throw everything at it.”
The electro-pop tracks easily sound like something any of the younger generation currently topping the charts could have released, so it’s no surprise Louise is frustrated that people pre-judge the music because it’s hers.
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“Literally anyone who’s made a big hit in the last five years is on this album and the bit that I find tough is I’m still breaking down doors musically. What do I need to do to get people to go: ‘Actually, this is great?’
“Maybe people who wouldn’t normally listen to a Louise album, would listen to this album if they didn’t know it was me. But because it’s me, they expect a different tone.
How I could ever be up for an award against Oasis is beyond me! But I’ll take it
Louise Redknapp
“Of course, that is frustrating because you just want the music to be listened to. I’ve been in this industry for 30 years. I’ve made six albums. That doesn’t just happen because of a bit of luck,” she says.
Louise’s new carefree attitude is really refreshing – has hitting half a century last November made her just worry less?
“There’s always that apprehension of getting to that milestone. I said: ‘We’re not going to celebrate my 50th. We’re not going to have a party. Hopefully no one will remember.’
“And actually, now I’m there, I feel great. I feel positive. I feel good. I feel no different to when I was 40. I’m by no means winning at this. But I just have to remind myself we are really lucky to be reaching any ripe old age, so you’ve just got to carry on taking life by the balls and enjoy it.”
Louise will be one of the thousands enjoying herself this summer at the Oasis reunion tour after managing to nab some tickets to their sold-out gigs, thanks to her connections.
“I’m going. I did ask Noel Gallagher for tickets,” she says chuckling.
“He gave me a link. For me, it’s such a big part of my ‘90s. Drew and my kids want to go, too. He’s a mad Oasis fan. My kids are desperate to go, and I kind of love that as it’s not their era. But that’s the power of Oasis, right? It’s going to bring back memories for people. I was there back in the day when they were performing and winning everything.”
But there was one award they didn’t clinch – in 1998, Louise beat Liam to the Most Desirable Person gong at the NME Awards.
“How I could ever be up for an award against Oasis is beyond me!” she laughs.
There is zero bad feeling on my side. I have nothing but respect and love
Louise Redknapp
“But I’ll take it. I’ve got those awards in my downstairs toilet now. I never really look at them except when I’m down there dusting. The funny thing is my kids lay them flat when their mates come round, so I keep them there more to wind them up than anything else.
“I also obviously don’t believe I was the sexiest woman of the decade [she was given the title by FHM in 2004]. I never felt that, and I certainly don’t feel that now. Of course, it’s nice and it puts a smile on your face, but then you look in the mirror and go: ‘Actually, I don’t look that great today.’ ”
Of course, when Louise was collecting her awards, she was part of girl band Eternal, alongside Loose Women’s Kéllé Bryan and sisters Vernie and Easther Bennett.
Last year, the two sisters recruited a new member, Christel Lakhdar, after the band fell out over a reunion tour.
Kéllé and Louise pulled out because Vernie and Easther had reportedly refused to play any of the LGBTQ+ gigs they had scheduled because of their faith.
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“The only thing I’m going to say on the Eternal stuff is that I was so proud to be part of that band,” she says. “And the girls are incredible singers and deserve in every way to be up on stage singing. I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
“You cannot replace memories we had together. There is zero bad feeling on my side. Maybe different beliefs, but I have nothing but respect and love. There’s no bad blood or beef. It’s all noise.”
And after the success of the recent BBC documentary Boybands Forever, will she be taking part in the girl-band sequel?
“I was asked to, but I said no,” she explains.
“I’m not going to do it. I don’t want to get drawn into anything that’s negative. I think if you’re going to go on there, you’re expected to say something. I just don’t feel the need to be anything other than positive about my time in the band. I left 30 years ago, so what right have I got to sit down and start pulling it apart now?
“The only downside for me being a pop star in the ‘90s was it took over your life. There was no personal life, and when you’re young you most probably need that time to find out who you are.
“But as far as the music goes, it was bloody brilliant with the Smash Hits roadshows, tours and all of those big music TV shows. It would be us, Take That, East 17 and Boyzone. I shared a flat with Ronan Keating and Shane Lynch. It was a great experience, I had the time of my life.”
In the make-up chair with Louise
What are your skincare heroes?
I suffer badly with pigmentation, so I use Nivea Cellular Luminous 630 Anti Dark-Spot Face Treatment Serum, and I love Exilis skin-tightening treatments.
Do you have any make-up bag essentials?
Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint, because it’s sheer and easy to apply. I’ve always been a bronzer girl and I love any blusher.
What do you splurge on?
Candles, because they feel a bit luxurious. I always like to have them burning for when the boys come home, as I want to create a feeling of peace in the house when they walk in.
Any budget buys?
I don’t own one expensive face cream – I love CeraVe.
Who is your celebrity beauty icon?
Cate Blanchett. She’s so cool. I aspire to have that confidence.
When Louise looks back, it makes her realise she has always been able to bounce back from hardship.
“I’ve kept bettering myself and giving things a go, whether that’s new music, a West End show, Strictly Come Dancing or being vulnerable and talking honestly.
I want to back anyone who keeps going and keeps trying and living their best life, despite setbacks and [people’s] opinions. They are the people I want to be around and the type of person I want to be.”
- Louise’s new album Confessions is out now.
