At 16 he left school and became a member of a boy band that enjoyed gigantic success in the 1990s: Take That. The group was Robbie Williams’ entry into show business. Born on February 13, 1974 in Stoke-on-Trent, England, the son of two pub owners wanted only one thing from an early age – to entertain people. He played theater and eventually discovered music. When a newspaper advertisement called for a fifth member for the new band Take That, Williams’ mother sent her son to the casting. The rest is history. Williams was a member of the band for five years until his voluntary departure in 1995.
After a turbulent period of alcohol and drug escapades, Williams released his first album as a solo artist in 1997 and went on to have an impressive career. This was overshadowed by self-doubt and panic attacks, depression and the constant worry of not being taken seriously as a musician. Williams was particularly troubled by the relentless British press. In 2002 he moved his residence to Los Angeles. There he also met the woman who brought stability into his life. Williams has been married to actress Ayda Field since 2010 and they have four children together.
“What I’ve accomplished and what’s happened to my career since then is a miracle,” Williams says in a recent Netflix documentary looking back on his life. By his 50th birthday, he seems to have come into his own.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
