Geraldine Estelle “Geri” Halliwell (born 6 August 1972) is an English pop singer-songwriter, author, actress and philanthropist. After coming to international prominence in the late 1990s as Ginger Spice, a member of the girl group the Spice Girls, Halliwell launched her solo career in 1998 and released her album Schizophonic. Since then, she has released two more studio albums – Scream If You Wanna Go Faster and Passion – and four number one singles at the UK Singles Chart, “Mi Chico Latino”, “Lift Me Up”, “Bag It Up” and “It’s Raining Men”. In 2008, Halliwell published a book series named Ugenia Lavender.[1] As a solo artist, Halliwell has sold 12 million records worldwide and been nominated for two Brit Awards in 2000 and 2002.
>Announces that she is leaving Spice Girls, citing differences with the other band members. [30 May 1998]
Winner of the 1997 MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video, “Wannabe”.
Winner of the 1997 MTV Europe Music Award for Best Group, Spice Girls.
Pinched Prince Charles’ bum.
Friend of singer George Michael, guested in his house for a few months after leaving Spice Girls.
Has two tattoos: One of a panther on the small of her back, and another of a star in between her shoulder blades.
Her hero is Margaret Thatcher.
Written an auto-biography titled “If Only…” in which she dedicated to her late father.
Banned for driving for six weeks and ordered to pay a $580 fine and $50 court costs for driving twice the speed limit in Watford, England. [14 March 2001]
She’s half Spanish (mother) and quarter English and Swedish (father).
She is the great grand daughter of the 1930s Mayor of Cordoba in Spain.
On her mother’s side: Grandmother was a prison guard and grandfather was a prisoner.
On her father’s side: Grandmother was English and had a brief encounter with a Swedish merchant seaman, who turned out to be married and returned shortly after to his wife in Sweden.
Has a half brother Paul, a half sister Karen, a brother Max and a sister Natalie Halliwell-Jennings, all of whom are older than Geri.
Her half sister Karen helped make the infamous Union Jack dress Geri wore to the 1997 Brit Awards.
Her dad was 50 when she was born.
Mother became a Jehovah’s Witness when Geri was very young, which meant Geri didn’t get to celebrate birthdays or Christmas.
Attended Callowland Infant School and Watford Grammar School for Girls.
Auditioned for a part in Tank Girl (1995), where she met future band mate Victoria Beckham (nee Adams).
Was a hostess on the Turkish game show “Let’s Make A Deal”.
Among her many pre-stardom odd jobs was a stint as a cage go-go dancer in a Majorca disco, where she danced largely for rent money so she could stay in Majorca.
Measurements: 36C-24-35 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
In September 1999 Sotheby’s auction house in London featured her extravagant stage costumes, music awards, and personal belongings during her previous incarnation as “Ginger Spice”. The items were part of a two day celebrity auction with proceeds going to a children’s cancer charity. Her famed Union Jack mini-dress she wore at 1997 Brit Awards fetched the most pounds a whopping $69,340 in American dollars, which she hand delivered to the Vegas Hard Rock Hotel.
Is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations.
Gave birth to her first child at age 33, daughter Bluebell Madonna Halliwell on May 14, 2006 at London’s Portland Hospital. Child’s father is her ex-boyfriend, Sacha Gervasi.
With 11 singles (7 as a member of Spice Girls, 4 as a solo artist) at #1 in the UK singles chart, Geri is the British female singer with most #1 singles in the UK chart history.
Godmother of her daughter Bluebell is Victoria Beckham.
Godfather of her daughter Bluebell is Kenneth Goss.
A former member of Spice Girls along with Victoria Beckham, Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, and Melanie Chisholm.
Drives an Aston Martin car.
Author of the popular series of children’s books ‘Ugenia Lavender.’.
Revealed in April 2010, that she suffered from anorexia and bulimia until she sought help in 2002.
Completed the traditional celebrity “Top Gear” (2002) speed lap in 1m:55.4s (31 Oct. 2004).
Received a 1960s Mercedes 280SL convertible as a 27th birthday gift from fellow pop singer friend George Michael.
