After striking up a whirlwind romance with her 101 Dalmatians co-star Samuel Thomas last summer, Kym Marsh is said to be newly single following their ‘cordial split’.
And while the Waterloo Road actress shuts down the topic of dating in an interview with Closer, she divulges the advice she would give to anyone grappling with hardships.
She says, ‘Life is always a struggle – it’s not like all of a sudden, it’s a fairy tale. There are always things that people struggle with. I think people are out there and they’re struggling – having a hard time or trying to achieve a dream – and my advice is to just keep going. I find that, eventually, things generally pay off, so just keep going.’
Kym – who found fame on Popstars alongside Myleene Klass when they formed part of the band Hear’Say – reportedly parted ways with Samuel ‘quietly before Christmas’.
A source said last month, ‘Kym and Sam fell head over heels when they first met… But once Kym’s role in 101 Dalmatians ended, it became harder to spend time together and some of the magic they had at the beginning just disappeared.’
At 48, the former pop star was 19 years Samuel’s senior, and their age gap became the subject of cruel Instagram trolling throughout their relationship. However, the backlash didn’t stop them from gushing about their affection for one another, particularly notable in Samuel’s post marking the end of Kym’s run in 101 Dalmatians. He wrote in November, ‘Falling in love with you and being with you is the very best thing that could’ve happened. I can’t wait to see you do all the exciting things that are coming your way after this.’
Kym and Samuel’s reported split came just weeks before the ex-Coronation Street star posted a tribute on Instagram to her late father, David, a year on from prostate cancer. ‘Life will never be the same. Learning to live without you is the hardest thing to do,’ she wrote. ‘You were everything to me and you always will be.’
And now, the mum of three reveals the poignant words of her dad’s that she lives by. She says, ‘I’ve had hard times, but lots of people have, and I think it’s just about fighting. My dad always used to say sink or swim, and that’s genuinely the best advice he ever gave me, so I chose to swim.’
Kym’s romance with Samuel took off the year after her split from her third husband, army major Scott Ratcliff, whom she’d been married to for just over 18 months. The Merseyside-born actress had her first two children with ex-boyfriend David Cunliffe in the ’90s, welcoming David, now 29, and Emilie, 27.
She was married to her first husband, ex-EastEnders star Jack Ryder, from 2002 until 2008, before moving on with soap star Jamie Lomas. Tragically, the couple lost their son Archie in February 2009 after he was born 18 weeks early. They went on to have a daughter Polly in 2011, but separated in 2013, a year into their marriage, divorcing in 2014.
Now, as a proud grandmother to three, Kym admits it’s a ‘very blended household’. ‘My youngest [grandchild, Clayton, David’s son] is two. Teddy [Emilie’s son] is five, and I have a step-granddaughter, Polly [Emilie’s stepdaughter], who is eight. My youngest [child] is almost 14, so they keep me very busy when I’m at home,’ she laughs.
Next year will mark 20 years since Kym made her debut on Coronation Street. Her role as the multifaceted Michelle Connor was meant to be temporary, but it ended up becoming her longest-running TV role to date.
Kym recalls, ‘I was supposed to be [in Coronation Street] for four episodes, and I ended up staying for 13 years. It was amazing what I achieved in that time, but that was because somebody gave me an opportunity, and I’m thankful for it.’
Next year will be the year she turns 50 – and she plans to go large for the milestone birthday. ‘I might celebrate every single month for the whole year. You’re only 50 once, right?’ she reveals. ‘I’m nowhere near ready to give up at all. I feel like at this moment in time, I’ve really made some good choices, and I want to make some positive changes and really start looking after me.
‘I have a tendency to always put others before myself, so this year I’m going to [put myself first], and I think that’s the right thing to do, especially when you’re heading for the big 5-0! It’s about making more food choices, getting back into the gym, getting more sleep and spending more time at home.’