Myleene Klass

**Myleene Angela Klass** (born April 6, 1978) is an English actress, singer, model, pianist and media personality, formerly a member of the now defunct pop band Hear'Say.

## Early life

Klass was born in Gorleston, Norfolk, England, to an English/Austrian father and a Filipina mother. She comes from six generations of classical musicians on her father's side: Klass's grandmother was an opera singer and her grandfather left his violin to her, which she later went on to play.

Klass began to learn the piano and (violin) from the age of four and then the harp at 12. She took Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) exams in violin, piano and voice. She received an A grade in A-level music, and became a Norfolk County scholar.

Klass was firstly educated at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School then she went to Cliff Park High School in Gorleston, before going to Notre Dame High School, Norwich for a short time. While at school she spent her Saturdays studying singing at the Junior Department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and later on studied on the prestigious musical theatre course at the Royal Academy of Music, University of London.

## Pre-*Popstars*

Before finding fame via *Popstars*, Klass provided backing vocals on tour with the likes of k.d. lang, Michael Crawford and Robbie Williams. She has also toured with Cliff Richard.

In 1998, Klass spent a short period as part of a reality show for Bravo, called *The Doll's House*.

On 13 November 1999, Klass was also a featured back up singer for Cliff Richard's ITV1 *An Audience With* TV special, appearing on stage with him for a rendition of the number-one single *The Millennium Prayer*.

In July 2000, Klass was included in the programme of Stagecoach Theatre Arts' "Little Performers Holiday Workshop"'s presentation of "Mini Grease" as one of three dance and drama coaches.

More high profile work followed as Klass rapidly made her West End theatre debut in the hit show *Miss Saigon*. After her run in *Saigon* was completed, Klass then first auditioned for the first pop reality show which would go on to make her a household name.

## *Popstars*/Hear'Say

Klass's big break came when in 2001 the ITV1 show called *Popstars* gave an opportunity for contestants to become part of a newly formed pop band. Klass attended the auditions and made it through several elimination rounds. She was then chosen as one of the 10 finalists and became a member of Hear'Say alongside Kym Marsh, Suzanne Shaw, Danny Foster and Noel Sullivan. To do so, Klass had beaten 4,000 other hopefuls to a place in the group. The rejected five contestants from the final 10 became the chart-topping Liberty X.

Hear'Say's first single *Pure and Simple* was the fastest selling non-charitable record ever, selling 1.3 million copies. This record has since been beaten by Will Young, the first winner of Pop Idol, and his debut single *Anything is Possible/Evergreen*.

*Popstars*, Hear'Say's debut album (named after the TV show), sold 1.2 million copies in the UK.

Following the success of their first album, the band were given their own TV show entitled *Hear'Say It's Saturday*. During the show's run, the band had a chance to perform with established artists such as Lionel Richie, Celine Dion, Bradley Walsh, Blue and Atomic Kitten.

At the end of 2001, Hear'Say appeared on the prestigious Royal Variety Performance.

Subsequently, the group achieved a 37-date sell-out arena tour and performed numerous television guest appearances. Klass made many appearances with Hear'Say on TV and at live performance venues during 2002. The pop act's many promotional appearances during the year were also broadcast as part of their own TV shows entitled *Hear'Say: A New Chapter In Full* and *The Hear'Say Story*.

In total, Hear'Say had two #1 singles, a #3 single and a #6 single in the British charts, before splitting among a blaze of media headlines after a reported long term feud between Klass and Marsh. The feud resulted in Marsh leaving the band in 2002 and being replaced by Johnny Shentall.

## After Hear'Say

Almost a year after the Hear'Say break-up on May 13, 2003, Klass signed a five-album deal with Universal Classics and Jazz. The first promotional single for the album had been recorded, and Klass stated that she would be going into the studio to finish the album off for release in October. Promotion started with the release of the main promotional single *Toccata and Fugue* to TV channels and was the first ever classical piece to appear on British music television channel The Box. She also appeared in the video for Da Ya Think I'm Sexy with the FHM Hot 100, which went to #10 in the UK.

Rumours started appearing of a re-release of *Moving On* with a predicted five new tracks. This was later confirmed by Klass herself, although no new information was given. It was later revealed that the re-release had been pushed back because of conflicts between Klass's new management company (Mel Bush Organisation) and her previous Safe Management regarding royalties. Finally the plan was scrapped, the only remnant being the Asian release of *Moving On*, which includes three new tracks: *Trouble* (a Coldplay cover with Myleene's vocals), *Sahara* and *Le Onde*. It was then revealed by Klass herself that she would be working on a new album, which would include a number of tracks in which her vocals appeared. However, on 23 October 2004 it was announced that Klass would not be releasing any further material through her current label UCJ, Universal Classics & Jazz. In a statement through her official fansite, she revealed that she had plans to move toward a pop career, as many people had been wondering why she was not singing. However, little information has been heard about such an album.

### EMI Classics

On 28 March 2007 Klass signed a record contract with EMI Classics as both a recording artist and an ambassador for the EMI Classics UK roster of artists. These include Alfie Boe, Natasha Marsh and Natalie Clein. The deal includes the release of a series of albums on which Klass performs two exclusive tracks and chooses a number of her favourite classical pieces from the EMI Classics back catalogue. The first album *Myleene's Music for Romance*, was released on 2 July 2007 and went straight to number 1 in the classical chart. A music video to accompany the lead track *Cinema Paradiso* was shot at the Bucharest Opera House, Romania in April. The photo session for the album was shot by Mitch Jenkins.

Myleene's second album in the EMI series, *Myleene’s Music for Mothers*, was released on 18 February 2008, and features two tracks played by Klass. These two tracks are the popular ‘America’ from West Side Story, written by Leonard Bernstein and Ennio Morricone’s ‘Chi Mai’, known best as the theme tune to the 1981 BBC TV drama serial ‘The Life and Times of Lloyd George’.

## Non-music career

Klass's management company (Mel Bush Organisation) specialised only in classical artists, so she subsequently moved to a new management company Shalit Global, who continue to manage her today.

### Actress

In early 2006, Klass was cast as one of the 3 women starring in the long running play *The Vagina Monologues* and performed in Bromley, Richmond and Brighton. Her run was then extended to include all dates in Nottingham.

### Television presenter

In August 2005, Klass was signed as a presenter for the ITV1 music show *CD:UK* alongside Lauren Laverne and Johny P, with her first appearance shown on 17 September 2005. However, *CD:UK* was axed in March 2006 by ITV, because of poor ratings.

On 27 November 2005, beside Brian Dowling, Klass presented the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards which were broadcast on LIVINGtv. In 2005, Klass appeared as a guest panellist on the topical discussion show *The Wright Stuff* on a number of occasions. During December 2005, Klass helped present the E4 spin-off from Channel 4's hoax television show *Space Cadets*. During Christmas 2005, Klass appeared in a celebrity version of the BBC's acclaimed quiz show *Mastermind*. Klass scored 20 points in round one on her chosen specialist subject which was Series 1 of *Sex and the City*. However, during round two (general knowledge), Klass failed to answer a single question correctly.

On 9 June 2006 Klass hosted City Showcase's Classical Night, supporting the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at Rochester Castle Gardens along with the Opera Babes on 22 July, and appearing at *Music On Fire* at Sandhurst on the 22 September.

On 6 August 2006, Klass was as a guest reporter on BBC One's popular Sunday morning religion and ethics show *Heaven & Earth with Gloria Hunniford*. Klass's report, billed as the feature of the week, was on the Pope's astronomer.

On September 22, 2006, Klass was seen discussing her own dramatic weight loss with Peaches Geldof in a report on *Tonight with Trevor McDonald* concerning body image issues.

Since 2006, Klass has been seen an occasional reporter and sometime guest on the LK Today section of GMTV. With Andi Peters, Klass presented the Five Friday night series, *The All Star Talent Show* broadcast between 8 September 2006 and 13 October 2006.

From October 10, 2006, Klass co-presented LIVINGtv's *Ghost Towns* beside popular medium and ex-*Most Haunted* star Derek Acorah. As part of the *Daily Mirror* *Pride of Britain* awards, broadcast on ITV1, Klass visited Kabul in Afghanistan to present troops with their prize. Klass's report of the trip was then broadcast during the ceremony shown on 7 November 2006. On 17 December 2006, Klass was part of the Outside Broadcast team for ITV1's extremely popular talent show *The X Factor*. Klass was in Hackney, to report on the actions of eventual winner Leona Lewis's supporters during the live Final. Klass reprised her role in the next years The X Factor this time in Wales with runner up Rhydian's camp.

On January 13, 2007, Klass appeared on the BBC One quiz programme *Your Country Needs You*, featuring in the England team alongside *EastEnders* star Perry Fenwick. A week later, on 20 January 2007, Klass was a guest on ITV1's Saturday night prime time entertainment show, *Al Murray's Happy Hour*. In February 2007, Klass presented the red carpet coverage of the BAFTA Awards 2007 for Orange Mobile and its online services. Since March 2007, Klass has hosted a new movie show *The Screening Room* on CNN International, which reaches a global audience of over 200 million people.

In 2007, Klass became a questioner on the new National Lottery show *The People's Quiz*.

On the July 4, 2007 episode of the BBC's *The Daily Politics* programme, Klass presented a segment criticizing the British Government's multicultural policies and in particular the provision of translation services by public bodies. Citing her own mixed race background she accused current policies of stifling ethnic minorities and the natural desire of children to integrate.

### Modelling

In November 2004 Myleene posed for *Loaded* magazine. After this she appeared in a shot for *Maxim* magazine in February 2006, it was revealed in April 2006 that Klass charted at #78 in the FHM *100 Sexiest Females of 2006*, after not being included the previous year. Klass had previously been featured at #84 in 2002, #33 in 2003 and #43 in 2004.

Klass was chosen as the new face of Ortak Jewellery.

In January 2007, it was announced that Klass had signed a multi-million pound deal with Marks and Spencer to model clothes and swimwear for the new season. As the new face and body of Marks and Spencer's Spring and Summer Collection, Klass now appears in both print and television advertising, including one modelled on Ursula Andress's first appearance in *Dr. No*.

### Test card

In May 2007, Klass appeared on Sky HD's Test Card: in a nod to the famous Test Card F and a play on words to Hear'Say, she is dressed exactly like Carole Hersee, the eight-year-old girl who is featured on Test Card F. Unlike Test Card F, Klass steps out of the frame to give viewers a guide to high-definition TV.

## Personal life

Klass currently lives in Rotherhithe, South East London, and has a relationship with Graham Quinn, a former member of Hear'Say's security team. Klass dumped Quinn the first time after it was revealed he was a Heroin dealer in his native Ireland, and was wanted for fleeing a drugs dealing charge - he had taken on an assumed name in England, yet went back to him. In March 2006, Klass revealed that she and Quinn had become engaged.

On April 1, 2007 Myleene announced she was pregnant, with the baby due on September 7. As a result she delayed her wedding until 2008. She later announced that she got pregnant the night she got out of the jungle after starring in *I'm a Celebrity*.

Ava Bailey Quinn was born three weeks before her due date on August 16, 2007 at 13:45 GMT  weighing 2.3 kg (5 lb). Klass' spokesman said: "Myleene presented *The One Show* and felt a bit weird on the way home. She went to the hospital to get checked out and they told her she was in labour".
On 1 August 2019, she gave birth to her third child, a boy named Apollo. This was Klass' first child with her partner Simon Motson, who also has two children from a previous relationship. On 13 September 2020, Klass announced that she had become engaged to Motson.

Klass has published a book about her experiences of being pregnant, entitled "My Bump and Me: From Morning Sickness to Motherhood - An Honest Diary of My Pregnancy".

On 8 June 2008, Klass was made the Godmother of the Carnival Splendor, the newest ship of the Carnival Cruise line.

### Interest in astronomy and space

Klass has been an amateur astronomer for most of her life, having been taught the basics by her father. She was one of only a handful of celebrities, engineers and scientists who were at the UK London "control centre" for the touch-down of the UK Mars probe Beagle 2 in the early morning of Christmas Day 2003. Unfortunately she and the rest of the guests waited in vain for the signal which would confirm the landing - but it was never heard. Since then she has been a keen supporter of the UK Space Programme.

## References

1. ↑ Every move you make, I'll be watching
2. ↑ Myleene's Music for Mothers | Album Info
3. ↑ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/higher/myleene-klass-why-shes-firstklass-412134.html
4. ↑ http://www.myleeneklass.co.uk/myleene/
5. ↑ http://www.speakerscorner.co.uk/file/b044d3fc6acd536ef8059c73b8a93065/klass-myleene.html
6. ↑ *The Heaven and Earth Show*
7. ↑ http://www.lovefilm.com/browse/contributor/52372/Myleene\_Klass.html
8. ↑ Myleene - a Klass act
9. ↑ http://www.myleeneklass.co.uk/fashion/mands/
10. ↑ Joy as Myleene has girl
11. ↑ GMTV TV interview, April 30, 2007.
12. ↑ Loose Women TV interview, 21st May 2007
13. ↑ Friday Night with Jonathan Ross interview, 8th June 2007
14. ↑ Musician Klass confirms pregnancy
15. ↑ Myleene welcomes baby girl at Celebrity Baby Blog
16. ↑ Myleene's baby is pure Klass
17. ↑ Myleene gives birth to baby girl
18. ↑ Myleene Klass says ‘Having a baby in your 40s is an extremely different experience’.
19. ↑ Myleene Klass announces she’s engaged to partner Simon Motson.
20. ↑ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/beagle-2-search-the-baby-is-on-mars-and-the-mother-is-very-anxious-to-get-in-touch-577865.html
## External links

* Myleene Klass Biography
* Myleene Klass links at FreeOnes
* Myleene Klass at Babepedia
* Myleene Klass at Boobpedia
* Myleene Klass' Complete Web Photo Index
* Myleene's Music on EMI Classics
* Myleene Klass Classic FM page
* Myleene Klass Capital Radio Page
* Myleene Klass CNN 'The Screening Room' page
* Myleene Klass article at *Wikipedia*