Michelle Gayle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michelle Gayle
Gayle in 2008
Background information
Birth name	Michelle Patricia Gayle
Born	(1971-02-02) 2 February 1971 (age 54)
Origin	Harlesden, London, England
Genres	R&B soul
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter author screenwriter actress
Years active	1988–present
Labels	RCA (1993–1997) EMI (1997–1999) N2 Records (2003–2005)

Michelle Patricia Gayle (born 2 February 1971) is a British singer, actress, and writer. She first became famous as an actress on the popular TV show EastEnders. In the 1990s, she became a successful soul and R&B singer.

Gayle had seven hit songs that made it into the top 40 of the UK music charts. Her most famous songs include "Sweetness" and "Do You Know". She also released two popular albums. Besides music and acting, Gayle has written a book for teenagers and appeared on several reality TV shows.

Acting Career

Early Roles

Michelle Gayle was born in Harlesden, an area in northwest London. As a child, she went to the Barbara Speake Stage School, a special school for kids who want to be performers.

Her first big role was in the children's BBC show Grange Hill in 1988. She played a character named Fiona Wilson, who was part of a rap group on the show.

EastEnders and Stardom

In 1990, Gayle joined the famous BBC TV show EastEnders as Hattie Tavernier. EastEnders is a type of show called a soap opera, which tells ongoing stories about a community of people. The Tavernier family was the first time a whole family joined the show at once.

Gayle's character, Hattie, was part of many big stories. After three years, Gayle left the show in 1993 to focus on her dream of becoming a singer.

Stage and Screen Roles

After EastEnders, Gayle continued to act. In 1999, she starred as Belle in the West End musical Beauty and the Beast. The West End in London is like Broadway in New York City, famous for its big theatre shows.

She has also appeared in TV shows like Doctors, Holby City, and the children's series Wolfblood. In 2006, she starred in the movie Joy Division. More recently, she played the role of Hermione Granger in the West End play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Music Career

Chart Success in the 1990s

Music was always Gayle's main passion. In 1993, she signed a contract with RCA Records. Her first song, "Looking Up," was a hit. In 1994, she released "Sweetness", which became her biggest hit. It reached number 4 on the UK charts and stayed on the charts for 16 weeks.

She had more hit songs, including "I'll Find You," "Freedom," and "Happy Just to Be with You." These songs were all on her first album, Michelle Gayle, which sold enough copies to be certified gold.

In 1997, Gayle released her second album, Sensational. It included the hit songs "Do You Know" and "Sensational". During her time with RCA, she was nominated for three BRIT Awards, which are major music awards in the UK.

Later Music Projects

After leaving RCA, Gayle continued to work on music. In 2003, she appeared on the reality TV show Reborn in the USA. On the show, British pop stars competed in the United States to try and restart their music careers. Gayle came in second place.

In 2008, she tried to represent the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest. She co-wrote the song "Woo (U Make Me)" for the competition and finished second in the public vote.

Writing Career

Gayle is also a talented writer. In 2011, she published her first book for teenagers, called Pride and Premiership. The book is about two girls who want to become "WAGs", a term for the wives and girlfriends of famous football players.

Gayle, who was once married to a footballer, wanted to write a story that encourages girls to think about their own goals and make smart choices for their future. She has also written episodes for TV shows, including Wolfblood and A Discovery of Witches.

Personal Life

Gayle was married to former professional football player Mark Bright. They have a son named Isaiah. The couple separated in 2007. In 2011, Gayle had her second son, Luke.

She is the godmother to the daughter of actress Jacqui Gordon-Lawrence, who played her mother on EastEnders.

Discography

Albums

Singles