| erinp5 |
27-08-2013 04:26 PM |
Perhaps you saw Lauren Harries enter the Celebrity Big Brother House last week, but if you missed her speech you’d be forgiven for scratching your head and saying ‘I know I’ve seen her somewhere… but who the heck is that woman?’
Well, as Harries explained, she underwent a full sex change operation aged 22 and has been living as a woman for the past 15 years.
But why does that name ring a bell? Prior to her sex change she was – shock horror – James Harries, the child star who shot to fame as an antiques expert in the late eighties.
Get up to date with our history of Harries: as you knew him then, and as you know her now.
(Picture: YouTube)Before: James Harries (Picture: YouTube)
Being James Harries
Born in Surrey in 1978, the young Harries was essentially a jumped up hoarder of tat who collected bric-a-brac from car boot sales and second-hand shops. Persuing this hobby she eventually struck lucky with a pricey piece of porcelain and was even featured in the local Cardiff rag.
His style
Quirky. Unforgettable. Downright odd. It would be hard not to remember James’ look – a kid with big blonde curls and bizarre Dickensian style get up. Lauren recalled, ‘I was this little freak in this little suit with a bowtie on’. She may have lost the bow-tie, but we hope she hasn’t lost the attitude – nothing makes for better Big Brother than a housemate with a bit of a freak streak.
Fame highs
James entered the public eye aged 10, in 1988, appearing on the Wogan show to discussing his love of antiques. He became an entrepreneur, running a number of companies with his business partner (who, it should be pointed out, was his mum) and was regularly on TV for a number of years, including on After Hours and The Word.
Fame lows
Recession hit the Harries hard in the 90s, and TV opportunities arose less often. The family got into debt and Harries had to flog all her collectables to help keep the family afloat.
The goss
James’ father Mark was arrested for burning down his shop and charged with insurance fraud and his mother was put on antidepressants. Years of bullying lead James to two suicide attempts aged just 14.
Lauren Harries entering the Celebrity Big Brother House at Elstree Studios, Borehamwood. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday August 22, 2013. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA WireAfter: Lauren Harries (Picture: Ian West/PA Wire)
Being Lauren Harries
Harries started cross-dressing in 1997, and soon became known as Lauren. A casual remark in a shopping centre – ‘he should be a woman’ – encouraged her to undergo a sex change operation 2001. ‘My life is just beginning. It’s like I’ve been reborn’ she explained.
Her style
The slender six foot glamourpuss entered the BB house in a slinky black dress and hopes to bring ‘a bit of sex appeal ’ to the show. She’s clearly a strong woman too, comparing herself to Margaret Thatcher ‘but more beautiful.’ Having packed an abundance of sexy lingerie for her stay, Lauren said that ‘you never know’ what she might get up to… now that’s a saucy promise.
Fame highs
Harries was a regular on Big Brother’s Bit on the Side in 2011 and appeared as a guest panellist on Big Brother’s Big Mouth as early as 2005. She has starred in numerous documentaries and was even a cover girl for magazine Transliving. She was most recently on last year’s ‘World’s Greatest Body Shockers’.
Fame lows
Lauren has spoken out against prejudice on a number of occasions, and famously lost her cool on This Morning in 2009. Probably the worst incident Harries has dealt with was the attack that took place in July 2005, where a gang of five assaulted her and her family at their home.
The goss
Lauren’s a Buddhist, a vegetarian and apparently, she can read peoples auras – which will be a helpful skill to have in the BB house. Whatever her abilities, celeb dance personality and BB housemate, Louie Spence, seems totally charmed by her powers and that is a troublesome twosome we can’t wait to watch.
(DS)
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