November 4: English singer and media personality Louise Redknapp (née Nurding) is 39-years-old today

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Louise Elizabeth Redknapp was born in Lewisham, London and grew up in Eltham, London, and Oxted, Surrey. At the age of 11, she joined the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London, where she met her future bandmate in the popular girl group, Eternal, Kéllé Bryan.

While out clubbing at the age of 16, Louise met the music producer Denis Ingoldsby, who was forming an all-girl group. She introduced Ingoldsby to Kéllé Bryan and the two girls,  together with sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, formed the band Eternal in 1992. They performed a mixture of heavy R&B, soul, pop and dance. Eternal's debut single "Stay" entered the UK charts at number four, and their debut album, Always and Forever, sold over 1.2 million copies in the UK.

Louise left the group in 1995, amid rumours that she had been asked to leave by the Eternal's management and/or record company. In late-1995, Louise signed a record deal with First Avenue management and EMI Records.

Eternal- (Louise at left)

Now known professionally as "Louise,” her debut solo single was the orchestral ballad "Light of My Life" (which reached number eight on the UK charts). Her second solo release, "In Walked Love" fared less well and missed the UK Top Ten. However, Louise's third single, "Naked,” became her then biggest hit to date, peaking at number five in the UK.

Louise's debut solo album, also entitled Naked, was subsequently released in 1996 and peaked at number seven in the UK album charts. Two further singles were released: "Undivided Love" (UK #5) and "One Kiss From Heaven" (UK #9).

In 1997, Louise returned with the single "Arms Around The World,” which reached number four in the UK. Her second solo album, Woman in Me, peaked at number five in the UK. "Let's Go Round Again" (a cover of a song by The Average White Band) was the second single released from the album, which reached number ten.

During 1998, she was on the cover of magazines such as Smash Hits and GQ, and had been voted The Sexiest Woman In The World by the readers of FHM magazine. In 1998, Louise married the footballer Jamie Redknapp, then focused on making her "most personal album to date,” Elbow Beach. Released in 2000, Louise co-wrote all 12 tracks and co-producing most of them.

The lead single from Elbow Beach, the R&B-styled "2 Faced" went straight into the charts at number three, and became Louise's highest charting single. That same year, Louise was hired to 'sex up' the 2000 National Egg Awareness Campaign.

In January 2010 Redknapp took over from Amanda Hamilton as the full-time presenter of the BBC Sunday programme Something for the Weekend. She was also a judge on the UK version of So You Think You Can Dance. In the July 2004 edition of FHM, Louise was named the "Sexiest Woman of the Decade.”

In 2011, Louise made her acting debut alongside Ray Winstone as Irene Smith in the feature film The Hot Potato.

In 2003, Louise's single "Pandora's Kiss"/"Don't Give Up,” was released to raise money for Breast Cancer Care's "Tickled Pink" campaign.

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For more about Louise, visit her Website at -

http://www.louiseredknappofficial.co.uk/

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