Charlotte Church on surviving the ‘horrendous’ dark side of child fame: ‘My humble parents were massively taken advantage of’
She shot to international stardom at the age of 12 thanks to her astonishing soprano voice, selling millions of records worldwide in a stellar career which has seen her perform for popes, princes and even presidents.
But Charlotte Church’s fame came at a price.
Now, as the Welsh singer-songwriter, actress, presenter and activist launches a new podcast reflecting on the people and place which shaped her, she’s revealed the dark side to her enormous early fame.
“My parents came into it and they were so green, we all were. We got massively taken advantage of because we were quite humble working class people from Cardiff who just got thrown into this extraordinary situation,” said Charlotte, who is now 38 and who still lives in Wales.
"What happened with the tabloid press in my adolescence was pretty horrendous. But it's been really interesting hearing from my family about what it was like for them; the pressure of being a parent to a child star.”
Having been at the centre of media scrutiny for decades, the mum of three has compared her fame to being in a ‘psychological grinder’. She has previously spoken of the pressure of fame being a ‘pressure cooker’ on her family relationships.
“I look back and I wish I would have had enough confidence in myself, my creativity and my convictions to have been a bit more confident in my voice and my music and my choices rather than being made to feel like a product.
“But my family and I were really inexperienced - we were just totally plucked out of working class Wales and put on this global stage so it's been a process of shedding the stuff that didn't work for us and for me - being a product.
“I’m also a bit older now so I try not to look back too much - I don’t think it always brings positive energy.”
During the course of the making of her new BBC Sounds podcast, Kicking Back with the Cardiffians, she admitted she learned things about her parents and their own journey.
“My family is hilarious with big personalities. I thought by chatting to them I could understand how my upbringing has been shaped and also prompt listeners to start their own conversations with the people around them.
“What I found with this process was that by speaking to my family and friends it made me remember there had been loads of good stuff in my past. There was a lot of support, a lot of love, and that was wonderful.”
She is adamant that the experiences of ordinary people are ‘endlessly more fascinating’ than those of celebrities.
“Our culture is constantly reflecting back at us the lives of the super wealthy and super privileged but actually the working class experience is what the vast majority of us are having.“
“I felt those real working class stories just aren't being told enough but it’s so important we see ourselves in other people - it helps us understand who we are.
“People's life stories are stranger than fiction and nobody gets out of this life without suffering but if people can see themselves and their experience in others then that’s massively helpful.”
Charlotte herself has never conformed to the trappings of the celebrity circuit.
“I always stayed in Cardiff - I stayed with my people, my tribe and that’s what enabled me to stay grounded.
“There was a point when my family wanted to move to LA and London because that's where we were working a lot and that was where all the excitement was. But I was just like ‘this is bullshit’ and I didn’t want any part of it; it just didn’t feel real.”
She also eschews the idea of plastic surgery.
“I’m a nature girl - I’m as nature intended - so I’d never have cosmetic surgery.
“There are so many beautiful young women augmenting their faces and bodies - not just celebrities - because they've got this image of what to look like. I just find it so sad because these people are so beautiful anyway.
“Each to their own, I guess - if it makes you feel beautiful then crack on - but personally I love how my body works. I try to make it work better by doing bits of exercise but I've also had three babies and I'm deeply grateful for all that it does for me.
“And you know the fact that whatever comes my way in terms of stretch marks and cellulite, I welcome it.”
Now married to musician Jonathan Powell, they share a daughter, Frida Simone, who was born in 2020. She is also mum to Ruby, 16 and 15-year-old Dexter who she had with her previous partner
.
Charlotte, who is also an activist on many causes including social equality, trans rights and climate change, admits that she has raised her children in a different way to other people.
“They have a lot of choice and freedom. The kids have always known who I am and what I stand for. They know I am passionate about this stuff and I talk about it to my children all the time.
“They get it too. They understand that protecting the preciousness and beauty of life, whether that's protecting the climate or giving a voice to working class people and trying to make society more fair, is up to us all.
“We have to live in the world and it's everybody’s responsibility to make it better.”
It’s clear Charlotte is passionate about many things and that includes The Dreaming, a wellness retreat she set up in Wales. Based around a period house set in acres of countryside it is the former residence of the family of Laura Ashley and featured in the programme, Charlotte Church's Dream Build.
The centre aims to offer nourishment for the soul and spirit through its spectacular natural setting as well as a range of classes including meditation and relaxation and sound therapy.
“I’ve literally just come off of doing my first specialist retreat there - I took 13 people through this incredible five day experience where I help them reconnect to who they are in the world," revealed Charlotte.
“People come to us in all sorts of states - some are deeply grieving or burned out or have sort of lost the thread. I feel privileged to be doing that work and to have created this space.
“I'm trying to do my part to help you know to help to heal because this whole world is in such a pickle right now."
She is also the founder of The Arwen Project, a pioneering educational enterprise which aims to give children creative freedom to learn, including lessons under trees.
"As for the podcast - well I have plenty more family members to speak to! And I’d love others to listen and maybe do the same - you don't need to do a podcast, a phone will do!
"I think it might help people really get a sense of their own story and that has to be a good thing."
*Kicking Back With the Cardiffians is available weekly and out now on BBC Sounds
