Sarah Harding

For other people named Sarah Harding, see Sarah Harding (disambiguation).

Sarah Harding
Background information
Birth name	Sarah Nicole Hardman[1]
Born	17 November 1981 (1981-11-17) (age 30)
Origin	Ascot, Berkshire, England
Genres	Pop, R&B
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, model, actress
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Polydor, Fascination
Associated acts	Girls Aloud

Sarah Nicole Harding (born Sarah Nicole Hardman, 17 November 1981) is an English singer-songwriter, actress and model best known for being a member of the pop group Girls Aloud, formed through ITV's reality television programme Popstars: The Rivals.^[2] They have become one of the few reality television acts to achieve continued success, amassing a fortune of £25 million by May 2009.^[3] With Girls Aloud, Harding has been successful in achieving a string of 20 consecutive UK top ten singles (including four number ones), two UK number one albums, and received nominations for five BRIT Awards, winning Best Single in 2009 for "The Promise".^[4]

Early life and personal life

Harding was born in Ascot, Berkshire.^[5] She grew up, together with her two half brothers, in Staines, Surrey, then Stockport, Greater Manchester.^[6] She grew up in a musical household and has attributed her "musical genes" to her musician father, John Adam Hardman, who introduced her to the studio at a very young age.^[5] She attended Hazel Grove High School from 1993 to 1998, and later attended Stockport College where she studied hair.^[7] When she was 15, her father left her mother.^[6] Harding's parents subsequently divorced; she has no contact with her father.^[6]

She then worked as part of the promotions team for 2 nightclubs in The Grand Central Leisure Park in Stockport as well as waitressing at Pizza Hut, driving a van, debt collecting and as a BT telephone operator. She also toured North West England performing at pubs, social clubs, and caravan parks to support herself. In 2002, she was recording dance tracks when she decided to audition for Popstars: The Rivals^[8] She auditioned both for being a contestant on UK talent-search shows Fame Academy and Popstars: The Rivals and it was in the latter where she found fame, pulling out of Fame Academy after being accepted in the Popstars 1st round.

Harding also has an entry in FHM's High Street Honeys 2002, the magazine's national beauty contest, and her pictures appeared in the first Top 100, but she later withdrew, upon achieving success on Popstars.^[9] A year later, she was voted one of the Top 30 sexiest women in the world by readers of the same magazine. In 2005, she entered the same Top 10 at Number 8, slipping to Number 15 in 2006, to Number 17 in 2007, to number 36 in 2008, and to number 87 in 2009.

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.^[10] However, rumours circulated that the couple had called the wedding off^[11], and on September 6th of the same year 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". ^[12]

Career

2002–2009: Girls Aloud

Sarah Harding performing with Girls Aloud at the O2 in London (2008)

Harding auditioned for the reality television show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002.^[13] The programme, the second British series of the international Popstars franchise, would see the creation of two rival groups – a boy band and a girl group each consisting of five members, which would then compete against each other for the 2002 Christmas Number One spot on the UK Singles Chart. Several thousand applicants attended auditions across the UK in hope of being selected. Ten girls and ten boys were chosen as finalists by judges Pete Waterman, Louis Walsh and Geri Halliwell. These finalists then took to the stage participating in weekly Saturday night live performances (alternating weekly between the girls and boys). Each week the contestant polling the fewest phone votes was eliminated, until the final line-ups of the groups emerged. Harding joined Nadine Coyle, Cheryl Cole, Nicola Roberts, and Kimberley Walsh to comprise the new girl group Girls Aloud, formed through the show by a public vote on 30 November 2002.^[2]

The group's debut single "Sound of the Underground" peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the 2002 Christmas number one.^[14] Girls Aloud hold the record for the shortest time between formation and reaching number one.^[15] The group released their debut album, Sound of the Underground in May 2003,^[16] which entered the charts at number two and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry later the same year.^[17]

Since 2003, Girls Aloud have released twenty additional singles, with all but one charting within the top ten, and fifteen reaching the top five. Their singles "I'll Stand by You", "Walk This Way", and "The Promise" have charted at number one. Two of their albums have reached the top of the UK Album Chart; their greatest hits album The Sound of Girls Aloud and 2008's Out of Control, both of which entered the chart at number one, with over one million copies of the former being sold.^[18] All their albums are certified platinum.^{[citation needed]} They have been nominated for five BRIT Awards, and in 2009 won Best British Single at that year's BRIT Awards for "The Promise".^[4]

Girls Aloud have become one of the few UK reality television acts to achieve continued success, and had amassed a fortune of £25 million by May 2009.^[19] The 2007 edition of Guinness World Records listed them as "Most Successful Reality TV Group", while they also hold the record for "Most Consecutive Top Ten Entries in the UK by a Female Group" in the 2008 edition. The band have been working with Xenomania, who produce all of their material, since the start of their careers. The group has sold ten million records worldwide.^[20]

In 2009, Girls Aloud decided they would partake in a year-long hiatus to pursue solo projects, but would reunite for a new studio album in 2010.^[21]

As a member of Girls Aloud Harding co-wrote two songs, "Hear Me Out", from the album What Will the Neighbours Say?, and album track, and "Why Do It?", B-side to single, "I Think We're Alone Now".

2010–present: Solo career

Harding sparked rumours with the move that she would be leaving Girls Aloud to pursue a solo career, a rumour she later denied. She has launched a new nightclub called Kanaloa. In March 2010 Harding announced her solo album, mentioning Lady Gaga as her biggest influence and inspiration.^[22] It was supposedly due to be released at the end of 2010, but it didn't materialise. In an interview with The Daily Mirror, Harding stated, "I'm really looking forward to having the freedom to do my own thing. In the band we all have a say but we have to compromise. Now I can do exactly what I want."^[23] Harding recorded three solo tracks for the St Trinian's 2 soundtrack, titled "Too Bad", "Make It Easy" and "Boys Keep Swinging".^[24] Sarah also collaborated with London synthpop band Filthy Dukes for a song for the main soundtrack song for film, Wild Child, the song Harding recorded was "Real Wild Child". It was released in August 2008.^[25] Sarah refused to give away exactly what she is working on however, did state, "I can't tell you why yet, sorry, but I'm really excited about it."^[26] Sarah Harding's guest vocals feature in the Roger Sanchez & Far East Movement ft. Kanobby's track "2Gether". She also appears in snippets of the music video.

Other work

Outside of Girls Aloud, Harding signed a £100,000 deal to model Ultimo lingerie, following the likes of Penny Lancaster, Rachel Hunter and Helena Christensen.^[27]

Harding has promoted Coca-Cola Zero following its launch in Ireland.^[28] She will also advertise and promote Sunsilk with the rest of Girls Aloud.^[29]

In December 2009, Sarah appeared on MTV's 'Sarah Harding in 24 hours'. To promote this, she also made a guest appearance on Radio One with Chris Moyles.

Acting career

Harding made her first film appearance in St. Trinian's in 2007. She played a school band member along with her fellow band members of Girls Aloud. In 2008, Harding took on an acting project in the feature film Bad Day. She played a brunette girl called Jade Jennings who sits in the back of a cab and swears down the phone. The film also stars Donna Air and Claire Goose.^[30]

In 2009, Girls Aloud went on a hiatus whilst each member took a break to focus on different projects. Harding decided to focus on embarking an acting career.^[31] In the same year, Harding appeared in the television programme Freefall. She played a character called Sam.^[32] and Harding's latest film project currently was appearing in St. Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold. She played a new pupil called Roxy.^[33]

Harding is currently (August 2011) filming Run For Your Wife in which she plays one of the wives of the lead character, John Smith. The film is scheduled for release in spring 2012.^{[citation needed]}

Discography

Main article: Girls Aloud discography

Filmography

Year	Title	Film/Television	Role	Other notes
2007	St. Trinian's	Film	School Band Member	Cameo
2008	Bad Day	Film	Jade Jennings	Supporting Character
2009	Freefall	T.V.	Sam	Supporting Character
	St. Trinian's II: The Legend of Fritton's Gold	Film	Roxy	Main Character
2012	Run for Your Wife	Film	TBC	Supporting character

References

1. ^ "Sarah Harding's profile". http://www.girlsaloud.org/info.php?go=sarah. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ ^{a b} "Popstars girl group picked". BBC News (BBC). 2 December 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2529373.stm. Retrieved 28 February 2009. 
3. ^ "The 10 richest reality TV stars". The Times Online. News Corporation. 31 May 2009. http://timesbusiness.typepad.com/money_weblog/2009/05/the-20-richest-reality-tv-stars.html. Retrieved 3 September 2009. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ ^{a b} "Girls Aloud win Best British Single at the BRITs". NME. IPC Media. 18 February 2009. http://www.nme.com/news/brit-awards-2009/42882. Retrieved 21 August 2009. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Johnson, Angella (1 March 2009). "Sarah Harding's father's first interview: 'I don't want her money. All I want is some connection with my daughter'". Daily Mail (London). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1158000/Sarah-Hardings-fathers-interview-I-dont-want-money-All-I-want-connection-daughter.html. 
6. ^ ^{a b c} http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/article-1376825/Girls-Alouds-Sarah-Harding-My-father-dead--I-forgive-him.html
7. ^ "Girls Aloud's Sarah Harding: She dreamed of making it as a singer and now she's making the most of life at the top". Daily Mirror. UK. http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/04/22/life-and-soul-of-the-party-115875-21297975/. Retrieved 5 August 2011. 
8. ^ "Life And Soul Of The Party". Daily Mirror. UK. 25 April 2009. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/04/25/life-and-soul-of-the-party-115875-21306942/. Retrieved 5 August 2011. 
9. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
10. ^ "Girls Aloud Star Sarah Harding Engaged! | Girls Aloud | News | MTV UK". Mtv.co.uk. 4 January 2011. http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/girls-aloud/news/251941-sarah-harding-girls-aloud-engaged. Retrieved 5 August 2011. 
11. ^ "Girls Aloud Star Calls Off Engagement". MTV News. http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/girls-aloud/331448-girls-aloud-sarah-harding-dj-tom-crane-wedding-off. Retrieved 6 September 2011. 
12. ^ "Tweet by Harding's fiancé, Tom Crane.". http://twitter.com/#!/djtomcrane/status/111108248161107968. 
13. ^ Day, Elizabeth (9 November 2008). "The nation's new sweetheart". The Guardian (UK: Guardian Media Group). http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/09/girlsaloud-thexfactor. Retrieved 12 November 2008. 
14. ^ "Girls Aloud top festive chart". BBC News (BBC). 23 December 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2599721.stm. Retrieved 24 February 2008. 
15. ^ "Cheryl Cole Attending Kimberley Walsh 26th Brithday Party". The Insider. 26 November 2007. http://www.theinsider.com/news/489272_Cheryl_Cole_Attending_Kimberley_Walsh_26th_Brithday_Party. Retrieved 11 June 2010. 
16. ^ Wilkes, =Neil (30 April 2003). "Girls Aloud prepare for album release". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. http://www.digitalspy.com/popstars/a11004/girls-aloud-prepare-for-album-release.html. Retrieved 9 May 2010. 
17. ^ "Certified Awards – Sound of the Underground (Platinum)". British Phonographic Industry. 28 November 2003. http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=32027. Retrieved 9 May 2010. ^{[dead link]}
18. ^ "Take That shine among IFPI Platinum elite". Music Week. United Business Media. 29 January 2009. http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1036788&c=1. Retrieved 30 January 2009. 
19. ^ The Times – The 10 richest reality TV stars, 31 May 2009
20. ^ "BBC – Music – Girls Aloud". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/a0b2f210-cd3a-453d-937d-e4f2658d17c7. Retrieved 9 May 2010. 
21. ^ "Girls Aloud deny split rumours". NME. UK: IPC Media. 16 July 2009. http://www.nme.com/news/girls-aloud/46150. Retrieved 3 September 2009. 
22. ^ "Sarah Harding Announces Solo Album". www.mtv.co.uk. http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/sarah-harding/news/199892-sarah-harding-solo-album-cheryl-cole-lady-gaga-madonna. Retrieved 22 March 2010. 
23. ^ "Harding talks about new album to The Mirror". Mtv.co.uk. 19 March 2010. http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/sarah-harding/news/199892-sarah-harding-solo-album-cheryl-cole-lady-gaga-madonna. Retrieved 5 August 2011. 
24. ^ "Sarah Harding to quit Girls Aloud?". Now magazine. http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity-news/259679/sarah-harding-to-quit-girls-aloud/1/. Retrieved 20 September 2009. 
25. ^ "Sarah Harding already recorded solo songs". Omgmusic.com. 19 March 2010. http://www.omgmusic.com/news/sarah-harding-unveils-solo-album-plans. Retrieved 5 August 2011. 
26. ^ "Can't say what she is recording, but is really excited". Omgmusic.com. 27 August 2010. http://www.omgmusic.com/news/sarah-harding-in-the-recording-studio. Retrieved 5 August 2011. 
27. ^ "It's Sarah Bra-ding". The Sun (London). 5 September 2006. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article62073.ece. Retrieved 20 September 2009. 
28. ^ "That's a first ... For once, Sarah Harding's the sober one". Daily Mail (London). 5 February 2008. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-512270/Thats--For-Sarah-Hardings-sober-one.html. 
29. ^ "Theyre Aloud colours Girls". The Sun (London). 9 May 2007. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article24966.ece. 
30. ^ "Sexy Girl Sarah Does A Runner". The Sun (London). 12 October 2006. http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,4-2006470449,00.html. Retrieved 20 September 2009. 
31. ^ /http://gossipblender.com/gossip/sarah-harding-i-dont-know-when-girls-aloud-will-get-back-together-and-im-surprised-weve-stuck-around/
32. ^ http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0152241/
33. ^ Sheridan, Emily (16 December 2009). "Quick change Sarah Harding goes from 'naughtiest' schoolgirl in slinky black dress to a hot pink mini at St Trinian's premiere". Daily Mail (London). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1234602/Sarah-Harding-steals-limelight-St-Trinians-2-premiere-revealing-black-dress.html. 

External links

Girls Aloud portal

• Sarah Harding at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata
Name	Harding, Sarah
Alternative names	Hardman, Sarah
Short description
Date of birth	17 November 1981
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death