Samantha Fox facts for kids

Samantha Karen Fox (born 15 April 1966) is an English pop singer and former model from Crouch End in North London. She became famous as a model and later had a very successful music career. She has also worked as a television presenter and actress.

Samantha Fox started modelling at age 16 for The Sun newspaper. She quickly became one of the most photographed British women in the 1980s. She was even named "Page 3 Girl of the Year" three times in a row. In 1986, at age 20, she decided to focus on her pop music. She is still remembered as a top model from that time.

In 1986, her first song, "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)", became a huge hit around the world. It reached the top 10 in many countries. Her first three albums, Touch Me (1986), Samantha Fox (1987), and I Wanna Have Some Fun (1988), all had popular songs. She was even nominated for a Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist. While her later albums were not as big, she still performs and is working on new music.

Early Life

Samantha Fox was born on 15 April 1966 in Mile End, East London. She was the oldest daughter of Carole Ann Wilkie and John Patrick Fox. She had a sister named Vanessa and two half-siblings. Her family worked as market traders.

From a young age, Samantha loved theatre. She first performed on stage when she was only three years old. When she was fourteen, she started her first pop band with friends. She went to St Thomas More Catholic School, Wood Green. At fifteen, she joined the Anna Scher Theatre School. The next year, she signed her first music deal with Lamborghini Records.

Career

Modelling Career

Samantha Fox's modelling career began when she was 16. Her mother took photos of her and sent them to a modelling contest. Samantha came in second place. A photographer from The Sun newspaper then asked her to pose for them.

Samantha was happy for this chance. She said it was a way to have a better job than many people in her area. She had even thought about joining the police, but she was too short for their height rules at the time.

Her first picture in The Sun was on 22 February 1983. She signed a four-year contract with the newspaper. She was named "Page 3 Girl of the Year" in 1984, 1985, and 1986. She also appeared in other magazines.

Samantha left modelling in 1986 to focus on her singing. She did some modelling later on, but her main focus was music. She is known as one of the most photographed British women of the 1980s.

Singing Career

Samantha Fox tried to start a music career in 1983. Her first song was a cover of "Rocking with My Radio." It was released under the name S.F.X. She released another song, "Aim to Win," in 1984. Neither of these songs became popular. Samantha said that the record company was new and she was learning, but performing live helped her a lot.

In 1986, Samantha was asked to try out for Jive Records. They were looking for a British singer like Madonna. She recorded the song "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)". When it was released in March 1986, it became an instant hit. It reached the top 10 in many parts of Europe and was number one in several countries. In the UK, it reached number 3, and in the US, it reached number 4.

Her second song, "Do Ya Do Ya (Wanna Please Me)", also reached the top 10 in the UK. Jive Records then offered her a five-album deal. Her first album, Touch Me, reached number 17 in the UK. It was popular across Europe and was number one in Finland.

Her second album, Samantha Fox, came out in 1987. It included popular songs like "Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now" (UK #8) and "Naughty Girls (Need Love Too)" (US #3). At the Brit Awards 1988, Samantha was nominated for Best British Female Solo Artist. Her third album, I Wanna Have Some Fun, was released in 1988. It featured the hits "I Only Wanna Be With You" (UK #16) and "I Wanna Have Some Fun" (US #8). By the end of the 1980s, Samantha Fox had many hit songs and albums. She was also very successful in Australia and Europe.

After the 1980s, her song sales slowed down. She released three more albums: Just One Night (1991), 21st Century Fox (1997), and Angel with an Attitude (2005). None of these had big hit songs. A Greatest Hits album was released in 2009. In 2012, her first four albums were re-released with extra songs. In 2022, Samantha announced she was working on her seventh album.

Besides her solo music, Samantha Fox also worked with other artists. She formed a band called Sox with Cris Bonacci and Lauraine McIntosh. They tried to enter the 1995 Eurovision Song Contest for the UK, coming in fourth place. Sox released one song before the band ended. Samantha also sang on "Santa Maria" by DJ Milano in 1997. She worked with Swedish singer Günther on a new version of her hit "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)" in 2004. In 2022, she sang on the song "Tomorrow" with the Swedish band Nestor. In August 2023, she toured in the United States with other bands like Bad Boys Blue and Boney M..

Film and Television Work

Samantha Fox has appeared in films and on television. In 1989, she co-hosted the Brit Awards 1989 with Mick Fleetwood. This live show had some funny mistakes, like missing cues and introducing the wrong people. Samantha later said that the presenters were given wrong information and that the teleprompter wasn't working well.

In 1990, Samantha appeared on the American TV show Charles in Charge as a rock star. She also acted in the films The Match (1999), 7 Cases (2015), and the comedy horror film Sharknado 5: Global Swarming (2017). In 1995, she was a guest star in the Hindi film Rock Dancer.

She has also been on several reality TV shows. In November 2009, she was on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. In 2010, she appeared on a celebrity episode of Come Dine with Me. In 2016, she was on Celebrity Big Brother 18, finishing in seventh place. In 2023, she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef.

Charitable Activities

Samantha Fox has supported charities. In 2008, she donated her favorite bra to a charity auction. In 2011, she helped with a campaign for the Albert Kennedy Trust, a charity that helps young people.

Personal Life

Fox (left) and her former partner Myra Stratton (right) at the 2010 Fate Awards in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Samantha Fox's parents separated in 1988. Her father managed her career for a while. In 2022, she married her tour manager, Linda Birgitte Olsen.

In March 2023, Samantha's younger sister Vanessa passed away at age 50.

Discography

Studio albums

• Touch Me (1986)
• Samantha Fox (1987)
• I Wanna Have Some Fun (1988)
• Just One Night (1991)
• 21st Century Fox (1997)
• Angel with an Attitude (2005)

Awards and Recognition

Certifications