Latest news with #Pains

Daily Mirror

Sam Fender's low-key romance with actress - from 'casual fling' to tour travels

Sam Fender has been dating actress Rosa Collier for more than two years, and the couple have taken their romance on tour as she has accompanied him across Europe Sam Fender, the North Shields sensation with three Brit Awards to his name, has captured hearts worldwide with his music. The star, who is set to perform at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool on Saturday, has remained private about his personal life as he navigates his success. The importance of his privacy was shaped by a difficult childhood that saw his mother, Shirley, leave when he was just eight years old. It was Sam's father Alan, an ex-electrician turned music teacher, who handed him his first guitar at the age of eight. After Alan remarried, Sam faced another upheaval when his stepmother evicted him at 17, leading him to reconnect with Shirley after years apart. ‌ ‌ Opening up about his past struggles, Sam shared with The Guardian: "I was dealing with abandonment issues. My folks split up when I was young and I lived with my dad, but then he and I stopped getting on," he said. "I was bullied in school because I had long hair and I was sensitive." He also reflected on how these experiences impacted his relationships: "You don't realise these things affect you until you're older and you don't know why you're walking around with a pit in your stomach or why you push partners away. When I had a girlfriend, I realised I couldn't surrender myself to people. I didn't feel safe in a loving relationship. I'd self sabotage to almost gain control of the situation, because that's not the person hurting you, you're leaving them, and it makes you feel like you're in control of the situation. Because you have such fear of losing them." Fans have been on tenterhooks for a while now, eager to discover the identity of his girlfriend. Earlier this year, it was finally unveiled that he's been in a relationship with actress Rosa Collier for over two years. A source spilled the beans to The Sun, revealing that Rosa first crossed paths with Sam in 2022 and they "loosely dated" before things got serious in 2023. According to the insider, Sam is head over heels for Rosa, adding: "She works as an actress and they met when she was studying at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. "They had a casual fling for a few months and then things escalated in 2023," the source disclosed. They also revealed to the publication that Sam and Rosa have journeyed together quite extensively and recently enjoyed a romantic getaway to the Maldives. ‌ The source hinted that the couple "seem serious," and suggested that they might be gradually going public with their relationship. Rosa was accompanying Sam on his European tour at the time, and with a slew of UK gigs scheduled for the summer, the musician's other half could soon be spotted cheering him on from the audience. The insider teased: "Rosa is always front and centre, supporting her man." Rosa, who has performed in drama school shows like Macbeth and Pains of Youth, is followed by Sam and his bandmates on a private Instagram account. ‌ Her stage credits include a part in Our Man in Havana, highlighted on her acting CV alongside her musical talents as a grade eight pianist and a grade six tuned percussionist. She boasts a repertoire of accents for her acting roles, and also possesses skills in hand-to-hand stage combat — something that might come in handy with Sam's overzealous fans. Before kindling a romance with Rosa, Sam was romantically connected to Bridgerton star Hannah Dodd. Sam was enchanted by Hannah's social media presence in 2022, prompting engagement from him online as a source disclosed to The Sun: "Sam thinks Hannah is absolutely stunning and has been liking her pictures like crazy, which is of course very flattering for her. She has also followed him back and they are getting on very well. It's a case of watch this space." The year also saw Sam at the centre of rumours involving singer Raye, particularly after their cosy interaction at the 2022 Brit Awards. Reports surfaced that the two had shared several dates, and following the Brits event, they were noticed mingling at Sam's exclusive gathering at Four Quarters in Peckham, South London, where they joined music sensation Olivia Rodrigo and a host of Sam's pals. ‌ An insider revealed to The Sun: "Sam and Raye met each other on the music scene and get on really well. It's very early days but they've spent a lot of time together over the past few weeks and have been on a string of low-key, secret dates. They really respect each other and have loads in common." After sparking rumours with Raye at the 2022 BRIT Awards, Sam's attentions seemed to drift away, and he was caught liking several saucy posts from Lottie Moss on Instagram following their shared presence at the NME Awards. Sources say Sam was "taken aback" by Lottie's stunning looks when they met during the award ceremony, leading to OnlyFans sensation Lottie engaging reciprocally via social media.