+++ FOUR YEARS AFTER WE FIRST REVEALED THEIR ROMANCE, JODI ALBERT TALKS ABOUT HER MARRIAGE PLANS WITH WESTLIFE'S KIAN EGAN +++

Looking impossibly glamorous in cut-off jeans and a floaty top. Its easy to see why actress and ex-girlband singer Jodi Albert has stolen the heart of Westlife's Kian Egan

Having been together for 4 years its clear theyre a stronger couple than ever and with the Essex,its surely only a matter of time before they make plans to formalise things

"Of course we want to get married - we talk about it all the time but weve always sais were not going to cave into the pressure of having to do it before we want to.!"says Jodi, with a wide smile.

"Kian and I are really excited about our life together. Im only 23 though and for me having babies is a long way off."adds the actress, who for 3 years playes Hollyoaks' feisty shop assistant Debbie Dean.

Thats not to say Jodi, once voted Tv's sexiest soapstar,isnt excited about the prospect of starting a family. "When i do have a baby i want to spend all my time with it-I will be the one who brings it up/ To do that i have to have grown up myself.

Jodi and Kian were first introduced to each other by music mogul Simon Cowell,but over three years went by before they began dating."Kian wisely realised that at 15 years I was far to young"smiles Jodi vert shyly.

Back in those days it would have been difficult to imagine just how big Westlife would become.theyre now considered t be one of the most successful bands ever in British Pop History,worth an estimated 35 million

"The fantastic thing about Kian is hes completely down to earth about the band's sucess.just like the other members"Jodi praises".

It was after Girl Thing folded that Jodi,then aged 18,turned once again to acting. -her first role had been as a 10 year old in the West End production of Les Miserables.

Her successful role in Hollyoaks follewed and last summer she landed the role of Hayley, a prostitute, in channel 5's sitcom "Respectable" her first movie Popcorn has just come out and she recently fnished shooting an episode for casualty,-to be screened in June

Your acting has really taken off but what about your singing, Have you ever considered going back into the music business

"Possibly.But right now things are going so well with my acting, Im not ready to jump ship!My time with Girl Thing was fantastic. I travelled the world, and it made me grow up. I was by far the youngest member of the band but probably the most mature!"

Whats was the catalyst that forced the break up?

"A few of the girls in the band didn't get on well, on was pregnant and dont think any of us had the same goals.It was all too manufactured. At the time it was perfect for me,but right now it wouldn't be something id feel particularly proud of.

Did you know from an early age what you wanted to do in your life??

"After playing Corsette in Les Miserables I got b iten by the performance bug. In school I was always very shy about standing up to sing, but the acting it was different for some reason:I was so confident. With singing I always held it a little closer to my heart. If someone doesn't like your voice, then that hurts because its not easy to change. Having said that, I love singing.

Just how much influence has Kian had on your life and career???

"I wouldn't say he influenced me in any way, as regards my career, because ive always known what i wanted and i pride myself on being independent but he has supported me enormously in every decision i make, whethere he agrees with it or not.!Im the same with him..I wouldn't try and get involved with what Westlife do as a band and I wouldn't ever tell him what not to do. We have our relationship and our careers and they are two different things!!

Does he ever mind that your career keeps you apart from him???

"No, because his keeps us apart just as much. We've never lived a normal life as such. People are amazed that Kian and I can spend so much time apart,and still make it work. We do because that's what you do in this industry."

Trust must play an enormous role in your relationship??

Trust is the biggest part of our relationship. I couldn't be with Kian if i felt i couldn't trust him and vice versa. We know that were a team and pretty good one. I suppose we have quite old fashioned values, too. He was brought up by a good old fashioned irish family,and i come up form a working class east london background. We are both home bodies and will never forget where we come from."

Many women in your position would have halted their career and followed Kian around.

I would rather work a normal job on a minimum wage and not have a nice house or flashy car,than be somebody's lapdog. I actually couldn't think of anything worse than following Kian aorund and being at his beck and call. In fact i know he likes me because im fiery and independent. Actually i think he was quiet surprised at the start of our relationship as sometimes i just go off the rador for two days and hed be like,where are you?? I think its all due to my mum,she brought me up well and always taught me that men want what they cant have. I think that's probably stuck in my head""

You've known each other now for 8 years, How did it all begin??

Simon Cowell introduced us at the party in the park in 1999. Kian was like this pop star teenager, I had seen a picture of the band and my eye had gone straight to kian, but even at that age, i was veyr proud and determined, when i met him, i wasn't going to show it. They all walked in and Simon introduced them, and as soon as i saw him, i all embarssed, and after saying hello, turned on my hell and walked off.

Does Kian recall that encounter

Oh yea, he apparantley said to Simon, who is that??. and Simon told him no darling, you cant have her,not that one. Kian hasnt realasied i was only 15. Over the years we bumped into each other at various gigs. somehow we both knew that we end up together.We eventually ended up when i was 19!

How does Kian feel about you being voted sexiest soap star? Is there anything he ever put his foot on over workwise.

No, when i won the award in 2005, he was so excited he started texting my family saying its official, she is the sexiest soap star . As for your other question, Kian knows I always make the right decision. He knows i wont let anyone take the mick out of me and he also knows that im a very proud person.

How do you cope when you see thousands of girls throwing themselves at him??

I actually love it, when girls fancy Kian because it flatters me a lot.!And lets face it, if there were no girls fancying the boys then thered be no Westlife!!, im not insecurebecause i know Kian loves me and would never stray. So theres no reason for me to ever get jealous

What is it for you that makes Kian stand out from the crowd??

His respect for me overwhelms me. Its so lovely to have a man who adores everything about me. He's also such a caring person, with the biggest heart .

How do you spend your time together

We have Kians; house in Sligo. Its gorgeous right on the beach. Kian also spends an equal ammount of time in our place in London. The exciting news is we just completed a stunning barn in essex. It has 5 bedrooms, is set in 3.5 acres and very close to my parents home. Im longing to get a horse.

Does this mean youre starting to think about settling down???

Were deffinielty trying to make life easier for ourselves, like being around our family when were in England, and Kians family in Sligo. Yes of course id love to get married but we want the time to plan a nice wedidng and we want to be able to enjoy companies afterwards and not have to rush straight back into work. Its deffinitely on the cards, but Kian hasnt even proposed yet.

Do you have any idea when hell pop the question??

That's something youll have to ask him ,, im not bothered whether it happens or really soon or in another 3 years, The point is we really each other and are excited about our lives together. If we get married great. But at the same time were both very focussed on our careers. People arent going to be interested in us forever.

Where would your ideal wedding be??

Kian has spoken about a tropical one. We love Hawaii but who knows, ive never been chrsitened in church and i have a very open faith. I believe in God but dont see myself getting married in church. We dont want a big wedding, but i expect when i start planning it, it will probably get out of hand. Althoguh kians family are Catholic they dont frown on the fact we like to write our own vows and do it our own way

Source: Hello! Typed by: Joanne

 

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