Louise Redknapp has confirmed she and husband Jamie are living apart and revealed that although it’s hard, it’s something she needs to do.
Reports have been speculating for months that Louise and Jamie’s marriage is on the rocks and they’re set to be divorced by Christmas.
But Louise is still wearing her wedding ring and a recent appearance on This Morning only saw her reveal the pair were “putting the children first”.
Read more: Louise Redknapp flashes wedding ring amidst marriage split rumours
Now, in an interview with Stella Magazine, Louise has admitted that while she’s still in love with her husband, this is just something that she has to do.
“It’s so hard because I love him,” she said. “He’s an amazing man and we’ve had 20 good years together.
“I know he’s trying to understand that I need to do this.”
She went on to add that a “sweeping staircase and designer handbag” aren’t what makes her happy and that “being fulfilled, being true to yourself, following your passion, they are the things that make you happy.
“I have no idea what is going to happen, all I know is that I fought for this, it’s taken everything, but this is something I need to do – for me.”
Louise is currently starring in Cabaret and says she feels like she’s getting her life back a little bit.
She and Jamie married 19 years ago, and have two children Charley, 12, and nine-year-old Beau. Louise gave up performing when she had Charley and dedicated herself to being a mum.
“I feel I’m coming back to who I really am,” she admitted. “I have spent most of my life pleasing everyone else, worrying about being judged and thinking I should always do the right thing by staying home, looking after my kids and my husband.
“I lost myself.”
Read more: Louise Redknapp opens up about marriage troubles on This Morning
She continued: “I became a sort of Stepford Wife, wanting to be perfect at it. It was only when I agreed to do Strictly Come Dancing that I realised I couldn’t just go back to that.
“I didn’t want to continue running around after everyone else and occasionally promoting a yogurt or doing a little TV presenting job.
“I wanted to sing, I wanted to perform. I wanted to go back to work on a stage in front of an audience. I actually felt physically sick at the idea that I’d never have that buzz again, that fulfilment that I get from performing.
“And that is when the [bleep] hit the fan. No one could understand why it was so desperately important to me.”