Russell Brand's Highs and Lows
Controversy, lots of womanising and an A-List wife, Russell's life certainly hasn't been dull
WennRussell Edward Brand was born in Essex to Barbara and Ronald Brand (a photographer). Sadly his parents divorced when he was six months old and Russell was raised by his mother in what he described as “an isolated and lonely childhood”.
WennWhen Russell was 16, he started taking class-A drugs and was diagnosed as being bulimic. On the up side, he found his vocation on the stage, performing in a high school production of Bugsy Malone.
WennRuss’ talent was spotted by the prestigious Italia Conti Academy who offered him a place. Unfortunately the star was expelled in his first year for general misbehaviour (what else would you expect from a bad boy?) and drug use.
Rex FeaturesDespite these troubles, Russell managed to win some small acting parts in The Bill (pictured) and in kids’ show, Mud.
PA PhotosRussell landed his first TV job in 2000, as a VJ on MTV. The role involved touring the nightclubs of Britain and Ibiza, something that didn’t help the star’s drug addiction; he was fired after coming into work dressed as Osama Bin Laden, the day after the 9/11 attacks, and for bringing his drug dealer to the studio.
WennRussell channelled all this “life experience” into his stand-up acts (here he apparently slaughtered a pig's head) and, in 2000, made his Edinburgh debut and got himself an agent. He perfected his material for six years and went on a nationwide tour in 2006.
WennBut it was on Big Brother’s Big Mouth that Russell really got his big break, letting viewers into his own BB musings as well as those of his celebrity guests. He left the show after three years but thanked producers for "taking the risk of employing an ex-junkie twerp".
PA PhotosThe star’s career continued to soar as he performed for just about everybody, including the Queen and Prince Philip at the Royal Variety Performance.
WennRussell's off-beat humour certainly didn’t put off the ladies. The comedian was a notorious womaniser and regularly spotted out on the London party scene with an obligatory mystery blonde (or two).
WennAmong his amours was Kate Moss, who he met after she came to one of his stand-up shows. “She sort of looked at me and smiled, then she sent me a text message a bit later, saying, 'Do you wanna meet up?' I said, 'Yeah, I'll come round'. I did go round... It was mad that was," he revealed.
WennThe comedian took on the hosting reins at the BRITs in 2007, and controversy followed (well, obviously). Ofcom were inundated with complaints after he joked about the Queen, Robbie Williams and "intimate parts of the human body".
PA PhotosWith tales of drunken nights and plenty of debauchery, all told in Russell’s inimitable style, it isn’t really surprising that critics and readers alike lapped up his autobiography, My Booky Wook.
PA PhotosRussell, who describes his style as “S&M Willy Wonka”, is famous for his lengthy bean-pole legs, and he certainly doesn’t miss a chance to show them off in a pair of skinny jeans.
WennIn October 2008, you couldn’t pick up a newspaper without reading something about the Russell Brand/Jonathan Ross BBC phone incident. Just in case, you were hiding under a rock at the time, the scandal broke when the pair made a series of calls to Andrew Sachs in which Russell claimed to have slept with his grand-daughter. Russell resigned and Jonathan Ross was suspended, but, if anything, it only enhanced the comedian's career.
PA PhotosRussell was a surprise choice to host the 2008 MTV Awards; partly because his record with MTV wasn’t exactly rosy, but also because he was a relative unknown across the Atlantic. Of course he was going to upset someone and it ended up being the Jonas Brothers after he commented on their purity rings. Oops!
Rex FeaturesIt wasn’t long before Russell made the move to the big screen. As a naughty schoolboy himself, there seemed something rather appropriate about his first movie being St Trinian’s. He played wayward teacher Flash Harry and we all wanted to be the teacher’s pet!
Rex FeaturesNext came the family comedy Bedtime Stories, which saw Russell hold his own against Hollywood heavyweights, Adam Sandler, Courteney Cox and Guy Pearce.
PA PhotosIn Get Him To The Greek, Russell played an out-of-control star who went out partying all night and romanced a string of gorgeous women. Honestly, he was acting.
PA PhotosBut the woman to tame the notorious womaniser was quirky American star Katy Perry. The pair met when she filmed a Get Him To The Greek cameo, but didn’t hook up till a year later at London Fashion Week. Russ first spoke publicly about the singer while hosting the MTV Awards. "Katy Perry didn't win an award and she's staying at the same hotel as me, so she's gonna need a shoulder to cry on. So in a way, I'm the real winner tonight," he quipped.
PA PhotosRussell found himself in deep water (bit of a theme there) when he joked that young musicians should take heroin to help the music industry. "The top of the hit parade would look very different if teenyboppers were exposed to heroin. It would weed a lot of them out,” he said. Criticism followed with many saying the comments were an attention-seeking ploy.
PA PhotosWe thought it was just a fling, but Russell and Katy showed that their relationship was going to go the distance by tying the knot with a traditional Hindu ceremony at a Tiger sanctuary in Rajasthan, in India.
WennFor all his jokes, Russell wasn’t laughing in September 2010. When a paparazzi blocked his and Katy’s way to a flight at LA airport, he hit out and was arrested on suspected battery charges. Katy defended her man on Twitter: "If you cross the line & try and put a lens up my dress, my fiancé will do his job & protect me."
Rex FeaturesRussell’s going to get the chance to show some more of that comedic wit when he takes on Shakespeare in year. He’s set to play the jester Trinculo in a Hollywood version of The Tempest – and we can’t wait!
