Sarah Harding



Sarah Nicole Harding (born Sarah Nicole Hardman; 17 November 1981) is an English singer-songwriter, dancer, model, and actress. She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality television show Popstars: The Rivals on ITV. The programme announced that Harding had won a place as a member of the girl group, Girls Aloud. The group has achieved massive success, having twenty consecutive top ten singles (including four number ones) in the UK, six studio albums have all been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), two of which went to number one in the UK, and accumulating a total of five BRIT Award nominations. In 2009, Girls Aloud won "Best Single" with their song "The Promise".

During the group's break, Harding turned her attentions to acting, appearing in Bad Day, the BBC television film Freefall, Run for Your Wife, and St. Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold. Harding contributed three solo songs to the soundtrack of St. Trinian's 2. Harding has also modeled for Ultimo lingerie. In 2011, Harding entered a rehab facility for depression, alcohol addiction, and prescription drug abuse. In late 2012, Harding reunited with Girls Aloud to celebrate their tenth anniversary as a band.

Personal life
On January 2011, Harding and DJ Tom Crane, whom she had been dating since June 2007, announced their engagement. He proposed on New Year's Eve 2010 while on holiday in the Maldives. However, rumours circulated that the couple had called the wedding off, and on 6 September 2011 it was confirmed via the fiancé on his Twitter account. It is uncertain if the couple have split permanently as Crane posted "Sarah and I have decided to take a break. I have nothing else to say".

In October 2011, Harding checked into a rehab centre in Cape Town, South Africa after "hitting rock bottom" following her split with Crane, citing alcohol dependence and depression. She said that she drank to escape the breakdown of her relationship with Crane, later revealing she also had an addiction to Zopiclone sleeping tablets. Harding has not cut out alcohol altogether, but simply "reined it in." While in rehab, Harding met her boyfriend Theo Van Dries, whom she briefly dated; however, the relationship ended violently after a fight broke out in their hotel room on New Year's Day 2012.

On 16 April 2013 Harding received a six-month driving ban after police caught her talking on her mobile phone while she was driving through Central London. She was also fined £605. Harding had already accumulated nine penalty points on her licence for speeding prior to the incident. Her case was heard at Highbury Magistrates Court, where had argued that using public transport would be difficult because of her celebrity status. However, District Judge Nina Tempia dismissed the claim, telling her, "You are a normal person. I can see no reason why you shouldn't be disqualified."

Harding currently lives in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire.