
Benny Blanco says Selena Gomez waited outside his house 30 minutes before dates
Producer Benny Blanco has revealed singer Selena Gomez used to wait outside his house for 30 minutes in her car before dates.
The 37-year-old said his now-fiance did not realise he could see her on his cameras while she was waiting, while speaking to Jessie Ware and her mother Lennie on their Table Manners podcast.
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Blanco said: 'Selena's so insane that when we first started going out on dates, she was so obsessed with being on time.
Blanco said he could see Gomez waiting in her car on his cameras (James Manning/PA)
'She used to pull up to my house, minimum 20 minutes early, maybe 30 minutes early, and she would wait outside.
'But she didn't realise that my cameras could see down the street, and her car would just be parked outside for like 30 minutes, and she would just wait until it was time to come in.'
Gomez, 32, added: 'I don't think we've ever said that out loud to anyone, but it's so funny.
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'It's just, I don't know, I was nervous that I really liked him and I wanted to get there and, like, maybe call a friend to pump me up or do my make-up again or something.'
The pair's romantic revelations come after they released the collaborative album I Said I Love You First in March.
Speaking about their first kiss, Blanco added: 'Towards the end of the date, we were just sitting in the living room on the couch, and we were playing, We're Not Really Strangers (a card game).
'And there was a thing where it said, 'take a selfie with the person next to you', and she got right on my chest and took a selfie.
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'And then right after, I just looked at her, and I said, 'I got to kiss this girl', and I kissed her right away.
'And her heart started beating so quickly, and she started getting a rash on her face, and she was so nervous.'
Gomez added: 'I hadn't liked anyone in a very long time. So some kisses are for fun, and then when you feel something behind a kiss, it's completely different.
'And I'd been alone for about five years, with the exception of a few shitty dates here and there, but never felt that way, and I was a little embarrassed.'
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Gomez began her music career in the 2000s and has had five UK top 10 singles and two UK top 10 singles, she recently Emilia Perez as Jessica Del Monte.
Blanco released his only solo studio album Friends Keep Secrets in 2018, and has produced records for the likes of Katy Perry, Britney Spears and Kesha.
The full interview can be heard on the weekly Table Manners podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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18 hours ago
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Billie Piper's life from school with Amy Winehouse, teen fame and romance with 'stars'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Billie Piper's journey to stardom as a highly praised actress has been anything but smooth, with her personal life also experiencing its fair share of turbulence. However, she's managed to amass an impressive net worth and is a proud mother to three children. The 42 year old Swindon native first shot to fame nearly three decades ago as a teenage pop sensation. She later transitioned into acting, taking on the role of Rose Tyler, companion to Christopher Eccleston's Doctor in the 2005 revival of Doctor Who. Her performance took both critics and viewers by surprise, and she continues to impress with her acting prowess today. READ MORE -Netflix's new crime thriller hailed 'mind-blowing' as viewers demand multiple seasons READ MORE -Rio Ferdinand's life now with luxury move abroad, famous wife and 'health scare' Fast forward 20 years, and Billie has once again left us astounded. In the series finale, Ncuti Gatwa's current Doctor Who regenerated to reveal Billie, believed to be the new Doctor. It's a remarkable return to the show that initially put her on the acting map, reports the Mirror. Away from the cameras, however, Billie has faced some challenging times. Here, the Mirror takes a look back at her life so far, from her troubled teenage years, pop star fame, tumultuous love affairs and substantial net worth.... Schoolmates with Amy Winehouse. Billie's talents were apparent from a young age, leading her to leave Swindon for London at just 12 years old to attend the esteemed Sylvia Young Theatre School. 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During their teen years, while both were rapidly gaining fame, they became the epitome of young love, until it came crashing down with Ritchie's infidelity. Ritchie expressed deep "regret" for his indiscretion with a Russian woman during a tour, an affair that made headlines after she sold her story to a British tabloid in 2000. In the BBC documentary 'Boybands Forever', he confessed: "It massively hurt somebody that I loved. I regret any pain I caused but equally I was 19 you know? I made a mistake. It ended a relationship." Billie Piper's whirlwind marriage. At the tender age of 18, Billie Piper tied the knot with her first husband, Chris Evans, in 2001, just five months following their initial meeting. With Chris being 16 years older, their marriage sparked quite the stir due to the significant age difference, yet Billie now recalls their shared time as a healing and joyous chapter. During a candid chat on 'David Tennant Does A Podcast With...', Billie opened up about her past with Evans: "I went and got completely hammered for three years with Chris Evans. So much fun - just living very hard. But with a lot of love and a big dose of curiosity and just, yeah - amazing time." She also addressed the public perception of that era, saying: "It's funny because everyone framed that period in my life as these sort of horribly debauched, irresponsible, me falling apart looking like s***, putting on weight. That was really important to me, that period of my life. I needed that. Me not looking perfect every day in a tabloid was the best way for me to heal." Billie Piper has candidly revealed that her polished public image often masked a much darker reality, confessing: "Every time there would be a picture of me looking completely groomed and manicured within an inch of my life, I can tell you I was completely unhappy and starving and dark on the inside. 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Daily Mirror
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But off screen, Billie has endured some tough times. Here, the Mirror looks back at her life so far, from her difficult teenage years, popstar fame, turbulent romances and impressive net worth... School friends with Amy Wineh Billie's gifts were evident at a young age, and at 12 years old she made the move from Swindon to London to attend the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School. Aimed at nurturing future talent, the institution has produced many household names, but not all pupils had an easy time of it - including Billie's childhood friend Amy Winehouse. During a recent episode of Jessie Ware's Table Manners podcast, Billie offered some insight into what Amy was really like as a young girl. Remembering her as 'super clever, super bright', Billie revealed: "She was always cheeky. She was always like that, you know. She would do abstract stuff, and I really loved it." Sadly, Amy's differences didn't always go down well with her fellow pupils, and Billie remembers the iconic singer being badly bullied. She continued: "She got bullied quite a lot at school because she was doing her own thing, and she liked to push buttons, and do weird stuff. And I had a lot of space for that, but not many of the girls did. It wasn't the easiest ride." Teenage fame struggles Billie skyrocketed to pop stardom at the age of just 15 with her infectiously catchy 1998 anthem 'Because We Want To'. She became the youngest artist to debut at number one in the UK Chart with the hit, and singles 'Honey to The Bee' and 'Girlfriend' followed. Although many '90s teens would have been green with envy, topping the singles chart at such a young age came with its challenges. During a 2021 episode of Desert Island Discs, she recalled how strange it felt moving to her own flat before her 16th birthday, all while dealing with the surrealness of overnight fame. Speaking of her regrets, Billie told Lauren Laverne: "At the time, it felt really exciting and liberating and satisfied me with this quest to be a grown-up. It also felt extremely desperate and lonely sometimes. "I was seeing and experiencing a lot of life at a very young age. Now, when I look back at it now that I have my own children, it seems unbelievably unsafe and plays in unhealthily to my parenting." Death threats Billie also endured a horrific campaign of harassment in her younger years as a star. In 2001, a woman penned abuse-laden messages which she then read down the phone to Billie's record company, Blackfriars Crown Court was told in 2001. She called the teenage chart-topper a "whore" and warned of decapitation, dismemberment, burning, flogging and shooting. The abuse reportedly began because the woman thought the performer had given her a "dirty look" during a recording of a TV show, which she attended as an audience member. Boyband heartache Billie met Five singer Ritchie Neville when they were teenagers, having just been thrust into the spotlight with their respective pop careers. They were love's young dream until Ritchie broke Billie's heart when he cheated. Ritchie said he was full of "regret" over his betrayal with a Russian beauty while on tour in the country - who subsequently sold her story to a British newspaper in 2000. Speaking on the BBC documentary Boybands Forever he said: "It massively hurt somebody that I loved. I regret any pain I caused but equally I was 19 you know? I made a mistake. It ended a relationship." Wild age gap marriage Billie married her first husband, Chris Evans, in 2001 when she was just 18 years old, a mere five months after their first date. Given that Chris was 16 years her senior, the age gap romance raised eyebrows at the time, but Billie looks back on their time together as a period of fun and healing. Opening up with her former Doctor Who co-star on David Tennant Does A Podcast With..., Billie reflected: "I went and got completely hammered for three years with Chris Evans. So much fun - just living very hard. But with a lot of love and a big dose of curiosity and just, yeah - amazing time. "It's funny because everyone framed that period in my life as these sort of horribly debauched, irresponsible, me falling apart looking like s***, putting on weight. That was really important to me, that period of my life. I needed that. Me not looking perfect every day in a tabloid was the best way for me to heal. "Every time there would be a picture of me looking completely groomed and manicured within an inch of my life, I can tell you I was completely unhappy and starving and dark on the inside. And I haven't brushed my hair since!" She added: "We really had a really amazing time together. I imagine it's what your uni years feel like - sort of reckless, but you're learning a lot. It was an incredible time and, not to undermine our relationship because we also had a very loving relationship. It wasn't just 'oh, we're going out and getting f*****' - we had a very caring and loving relationship." Their whirlwind marriage came to an end in 2004, amid rumours of 'screaming rows', but Billie and Chris are said to remain close friends to this day. Kids and splits In 2006, Billie entered into a relationship with Lewis actor turned right-wing activist Laurence Fox, with the couple tying the knot one year later. They went on to welcome two sons, Winston and Eugene before calling time on their marriage in 2016. In a recent interview with British Vogue the mother-of-two said of her controversial ex: "I've had to make some choices and a divorce speaks for itself. Or at least it should." Laurence is often in the spotlight for his much-criticised views. In the interview, she added: "I close everything down and keep a very strict routine with the kids so that there's consistency. "I keep them close. That's all I can do. I try to keep people from telling me stuff but it's really, really hard. I don't read it but everyone wants to talk about it. Sometimes I have to say to people, 'Please don't bring this to me, now or ever'." She went on to have a relationship with former Tribes frontman Johnny Lloyd, and they welcomed their daughter, Tallulah, who they welcomed in 2019. After eight years together, they split in 2023, citing that their 'relationship ran its course'. In a candid chat aired on Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast in 2021, Billie spoke about the difficulties of juggling motherhood with a hectic career. Billie shared: "Striking a balance is unachievable and as soon as you let go and just accept that, there are useful changes... I cry at the end of every day and spend an hour in bed saying, 'I'll be better tomorrow, I swear. I'm going to read my parenting manual tonight and everything will be better tomorrow.'" In an open letter to Tallulah, published in Stylist, Billie reflected that she'd been so fearful of having a daughter, anguished by all she didn't want her to experience, that she didn't realise just how overjoyed she'd be by her arrival. She wrote: "You have restored – without knowing it – all my faith in strong female energy. I want to learn from you and revel in your beauty. You are not just female, you are other. And from listing all of my anxieties above (there are many and I promise to always work on myself), I'm at my most calm and able around you. You are powerful." Huge net worth After her time on Doctor Who in 2005, Billie picked up leading roles in Secret Diary of a Call Girl and I Hate Suzie, which she co-created alongside playwright Lucy Prebble, as well as starring in the Netflix drama, Scoop. Not to mention her glittering stage career - winning Best Theatre Actress for Great Britain in 2014 and being honoured with a Laurence Olivier Award among countless other accolades for her lead performance in Yerma in 2017. Following her impressive career, she has amassed an impressive net worth. The actress is estimated to have a net worth of $12 million (around £9 million), according to Celebrity Net Worth.


Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
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