Actress Patsy Kensit has revealed that she turned to music icon Elton John for crucial advice while enduring relentless media scrutiny during her high-profile romance with Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher. The 58-year-old star, who began dating Gallagher in 1995, described facing intense press attention that often included harsh criticism about her weight.
Elton John's Timely Counsel
Speaking exclusively to The Telegraph, Kensit disclosed that Elton John advised her to stop reading newspapers in the early 1990s. "Elton John told me I needed to stop reading the papers in the early 1990s. So I did," she revealed. This guidance proved invaluable as she navigated the turbulent waters of celebrity journalism during her relationship with the rock star.
Media Portrayal and Personal Reality
Kensit expressed frustration with how the press depicted her during that period. "I think the press had established this fragile, needy person – this image of someone who was almost everything I wasn't," she explained. The actress recalled being photographed "looking upset" or "kicking a car door in" during particularly difficult moments in her marriage to Gallagher.
Regarding the weight-shaming commentary that frequently appeared in publications, Kensit maintained her resolve. "All that [weight-shaming] stuff in the papers – I didn't look at it. I didn't read it. It's as though they had this fictional character in their heads, and it was very difficult for them to rewrite the truth."
Wedding Disruption and Private Ceremony
The couple's original wedding plans in February 1997 were cancelled due to overwhelming media intrusion. Gallagher's record company announced at the time: "Liam Gallagher will not be marrying Ms. Patsy Kensit today. Obsessive and intrusive media attention has removed any dignity from what was to be a private and special occasion."
They eventually married privately the following April in a "totally private" ceremony at Westminster registry office. The union produced son Lennon in 1999, though the couple divorced the following year.
Career Highlights and Personal Life
Kensit began her acting career at just four years old in Birds Eye advertisements. Her film credits include notable roles in 1974's The Great Gatsby, British thriller Hennessy, 1986's Absolute Beginners, and Lethal Weapon 2 in 1989. More recently, she has appeared in television series including Emmerdale, Holby City, and EastEnders, joining the latter soap in 2023.
Before her relationship with Gallagher, Kensit was married to musician Daniel Donovan from 1988 to 1991, then to Simple Minds star Jim Kerr from 1992 to 1996, with whom she shares son James. She later married DJ Jeremy Healy in 2007, though they announced divorce plans three years later.
Reflections on Family Dynamics
In a candid revelation last year, Kensit acknowledged that she doesn't maintain relationships with the fathers of her children. She told HELLO! magazine that while this situation is "really quite sad," she has "always supported a relationship between a father and a child."
Now, over twenty-five years after her divorce from Gallagher, Kensit's reflections on that period highlight the enduring challenges celebrities face with media representation and personal privacy.
