Lee's 21st Birthday Party - OK Magazine
Is Pop’s wild one ready to settle down?
OK! Gets access all areas to the Blue Boy’s Star studded 21st Birthday Bash
Lee Ryan is one of those celebrities whose reputation precedes him. He’s known for being a hit with the ladies, someone who’ll never say no to a party and an all round jack the lad. But scratch beneath the surface and there’s a whole lot more to Lee Ryan than you would have ever expected. After all, if every story was true, then the last thing he would be doing would be to ask people to donate money to charity rather than give him birthday presents, right? well, that’s exactly what he’s done.
While good deeds are just one part of Lee’s life at the moment, he’s also had a lot happening in his private and work lives. He recently had to defend himself in court after an altercation with a camera man, he’s found himself a new girlfriend, who is sending him ‘ga-ga’ and he’s thinking about the future.
Rumours have been rife that his band Blue are splitting up but here, on his landmark 21st birthday - surrounded by friends, family, and the new love in his life - Lee sets the record straight about life, love, work andraising money for good causes.
Lee, the question at the moment is are Blue splitting up? What’s the story?
To be honest, all the boys have been under a lot of pressure because of all the talk about us splitting. The fact is that we will have a break for a year. We’re not splitting and we’ve never said once we are.
How do you think it will feel to be working on solo things for a year without the boys around you?
I’ll have to cross that bridge when I come to it. I think it’s something we’ve all got to do. We’re always going to be Blue, but we’ve got different things we want to do as well. The four of us have had such a lot of fun and have so many good memories.
Now that you’re so successful, have you had time to look back on Blue’s success and appreciate how many things you’ve achieved in your life?
I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I try to embrace it as much as I can. It’s hard to deal with and people go off the rails because they don’t have people around to ground them. I’m lucky to be in Blue with three lads that I love. We’ve done well and have achieved so much. A lot of dreams have come true for me. It’s been amazing.
What kind of material can we expect to hear with your solo work?
I like writing ballads. I think a lot of people would expect me to write quite poppy stuff, but I love writing ballads and I have already written some amazing songs that will really surprise people.
Are you getting into acting?
That’s what I’ve always wanted to do, but it’s not something I’ve really talked about a lot before. I think a lot of people have an impression of me that I don’t do very much. I quite like that, though, because it means when I do do something they’ll actually be surprised. I’m the only one who needs to know exactly what’s going on with my career.
What will the other boys be doing with the time apart?
Simon has a real love for music so there’s no doubt that he’ll continue to do that. Duncan will do his acting and Antony’s doing his own thing. I think we’d all prefer to keep these things to our chest so that no one makes fun of us if things go wrong.
Are you excited about turning 21? It’s quite a landmark....
I didn’t think I’d ever make it to 21 to be honest with you. When, I was a kid I used to wonder if I’d ever make it, but I’m quite happy I did. I was a bit of a naughty so -and -so when I was younger and 21 seemed like such a long way away. I can’t believe it finally arrived but I’m happy.
What does turning 21 man to you? What will you do now?
It means I can go and get drunk in America! I think there’s loads of different aspects to turning 21. Everyone has been telling me that it’s the point at which your head suddenly comes together and life starts to make sense, but I don’t know.
Has it been hard work putting this party together?
I’ve never had a party before so it’s going to be crazy. People have worked their hearts out to make this party great and I’m really excited about it.
Tell us about the charity that this party is supporting...
It’s for a charity called Facing Forward that’s based in America. It’s a charity that helps children who have been born with facial deformities, and one of the ways they do that is by raising money for operations that can literally rebuild these kids faces. when I went to visit them, there was this little girl, she was blind and she’d just had her palate rebuilt, and she was just holding my hand. Then all of a sudden she started singing, Disney songs and asking me to sing along with her. I was playing cards with another little boy and after a while he just there his arms around me and gave me a big kiss. They’re brilliant kids and they deserve the chance to have a normal life. What’s really sad is that they get treated so differently just because they look different.
How did you go from meeting these kids to deciding to have a fund -raising birthday party in their honour?
I was really shocked at how differently they are treated because of how they look. It’s not right. They’re just pure children with innocent eyes and all they want is to be treated normally. I told my mum all about meeting them and it was her idea to raise money for the charity through the party. I couldn’t agree more.
Meeting those children has clearly affected you - how is the party going to help them?
What I’ve said to people coming to the party is instead of buying me a present they should give a donation tot he charity, It costs $5,000 for one of these operations, so hopefully we can make it possible for a lot of children to get access to this life - changing surgery.
What else have you been doing to raise funds for the charity? You sound like you’ve been hard at work..
Well, I’m going to set up a trust fund and hopefully we’ll organise a big charity concert to raise money for them. It’s also important to me to introduce the charity over here in the UK so people know what it’s all about. There are so many charities out there that need support. War Child for example, then charities raising money for research for cancer. AIDS, leukaemia and cruelty to animals. It’s important that we support them all.
A lot of charities must ask for your support, how do you decide who to help?
I support War Child. I would love to do something, but I want to make sure it has a real structure to it so that we can raise the most money possible. I want to have fun raising the money rather than just sitting down and dwelling on sadness. I want to be able to do something.
What’s the best birthday present you’ve been given in all your 21 years?
Being born. My mum gave me that present - the gift of life - and it’s the best one I’ve ever been given.
You’ve been pictured out with model Emma Davies a lot - are you two a couple?
She’s stunning and she’s really cool. She looks amazing, and she’s sending me ga-ga! I’ve got to settle down a bit more. I didn’t ever think I was that bad, but I’ve been made out to be a party animal, which isn’t entirely true. I’m really straight with Emma. She’s knows I haven’t had a girlfriend for a while and that I’ve been seeing lots of girls. I’m not ready to settle down yet. I’ve got so much more that I want to achieve.
And you did recently admit to having had many sexual conquests...
It’s what anyone would do in this situation. What do they expect? I’m young, I’m not married, I don’t have any commitments and if I have threesomes or have sex on a pool table - so what!
Do you ever worry that someone will go out with you and then sell a story to the papers?
It really doesn’t bother me if they do, as long as they say I was good in bed! I’m a very trusting person and that’s probably one of my downfalls. If someone sells a story on me, I just wish them all the best and hope they get a nice pair of shoes with the cash.
You appeared in court recently after an altercation with a photographer....
In a way, I think it was probably quite good for me. I think it’s probably on e of the things I’ve been through in this business that has taught me a lot. It was nerve-wracking in court because that’s about real as life gets.
How do you think it has affected your relationship with the paparazzi?
I have a great relationship with them and always have had. I totally respect they have a job to do and that they are just as important as any other aspect of the media industry.
Were the band behind you?
Yes, definitely. They gave me their full support. It was my mum who really helped me, though. She told me to handle myself with dignity and decorum and that’s exactly what I did. She’s an amazing woman and there’s no way I could have done it without her.
Finally, who would you like to jump naked out if a birthday cake for you?
Carmen Electra, without a doubt. She’s absolutely gorgeous!
Thanks to Magz at HHH for saving me typing this interview up!