'The wedding's off!'
Monday 23 March 2009
She was due to get married this year, but Closer can reveal Natalie Cassidy has split from her fiancé Ben Porter.
Ex-EastEnders actress Natalie, 25, has been dating actor Ben, 40, since August 2007, and the pair got engaged last October.
But while she initially told friends the 15-year age gap wasn’t an issue, recently it’s started to create problems.
A source said: “Natalie has asked for a break from Ben and things are looking bleak. She wants thinking time, and isn’t sure if they’ll get back together.
“Ben’s been pushing to bring their wedding forward for months and it all got too much for Natalie. Ben’s keen to start a family, but lately Natalie’s been getting cold feet about settling down so young.”
Natalie moved out of her £650,000 London home last year to live with Ben in his flat in north London, so she could save for her big day.
She said: “We’re having a really fun time together. I do want kids and I want to get married. I’ve never been happier.”
But Natalie was pictured without her engagement ring last week and now pals say the actress’ change of heart has left fiancé Ben devastated.
Insiders say Natalie’s decision was also partly influenced by the death of her close friend, Wendy Richard, who played her on-screen mother-in-law.
Wendy passed away last month aged 65, after a long battle with cancer. Natalie was left devastated, as she viewed Wendy as a “second mummy” after her own mother Evelyn died from bowel cancer seven years ago.
Natalie said: “I’m heartbroken. She cared about me like a mum. But she was also a best friend.” Friends say losing Wendy has made Natalie rethink her relationship with Ben.
A source said: “Natalie was so close to Wendy, and her death has made her reassess certain aspects of her own life. Like her relationship with Ben.”
Pals say she’s turning to exercise to help her deal with the stress of the break-up, as well as to lose some of the weight she’s put on over the last year. Last week, she was seen jogging and doing press-ups on three separate occasions in London’s Hyde Park.
She’s also back to healthy eating and was spotted having an apple in Starbucks, rather than a sugary treat.
A source said: “Nat finds exercise helps her deal with stress and really clears her head. She just needs to be on her own at the moment.”
In 2007, Natalie, who’s 5ft 4, lost 4st, dropping to 8st and going from a size 16 to an 8. But the weight crept back on, and she’s been plagued by stories that she’s a size 18.
Earlier this month, Natalie – who says she’s a size 12 – fought back at the stories, saying: “I don’t want to be in the gym seven days a week. And if I want a curry, I’ll have one!”
By Lottie Lumsden
Posted by lovingmum
RE: 'The wedding's off!'
Awwww poor Natalie. I think she did really well losing weight but if she finds it hard to keep it up why are people making a big issue out of it. I think shes great either way.
Posted 24/03/2009 09:49:07
Posted by clarabella
RE: 'The wedding's off!'
If you really love someone age doesn't come into it,she knew how old he was when they got together,but its her life,she obviously isn't ready.
So bloody what if she was spotted having an apple!!...she'd have been slagged off for eating cake if she'd had that,leave the poor girl alone.
Everybody's body's are different,would be a boring old world if we were all a size 8!
I cycle everyday,but i will never be the same weight as my twin sister,but atleast i'm fit and healthy,its about loving the body god gave you,and i have a take-a-way if i bloody want one!
The press has alot to answer for when it comes to skinny celebs,thank god im not one!
I wish Natalie well with her fitness,but i hope its for her and not for anybody else.
Posted 24/03/2009 09:53:41
Posted by sarie75
RE: 'The wedding's off!'
Good on Natalie for getting out of a realationship she's not entirely happy in before she gets married. It would've been even more heartbreaking for her having to go through a messy divorce in a couple of years time. I think older men are always controlling in their realationships with younger women, and if you haven't got the strength of character to deal with a controlling older man, who are more set in their ways, then the woman becomes a shadow of her former self. Natalie obviously doesn't suffer from this problem.
Posted 24/03/2009 10:30:50
Posted by lovingmum
RE: 'The wedding's off!'
Loooool i so know what you mean about the apple. They just cant win can they. I know its a bit boring now and ive said it loads of times but i really do believe all this malarky about weight is down to the media. They are the ones that are constantly making such trivial stuff headline news and ramming it down our throats that so and so has lost loads of weight after birth. If thats all we are seeing on a day to day basis is it any wonder there are lots of women AND young girls out there that hate the way they look. I hover between a size 8 and 10 but im only 5ft tall and have a petite build. During my pregnancy with my first son i shot up to a size 18 which was way too much for my height. It took me 3 years stopping and starting diets to get back to an 8. I never felt any pressure from friends or family but everytime i picked up a magazine or newspaper i was made to feel like i was some sort of alien cos there it was in black and white telling me how i should look and what i should aspire to. Thats when for the first time ever in my life i started feeling insecure about myself. I didnt put on as much weight with my second son because i was alot more active and just made sure i had more fruit n veg with my meals instead of crisps and chocolate so its been easier after the birth. He'l be six in June and im still not where i want to be haha but thats because i put on about a stone last year due to falling in love and getting into that comfort zone. Im not letting the mags bully me into doing stupid crash diets to get where i want to be and havent cut anything out apart from junk. Thats why im so into exercising because its the only way to eat normal food and still lose weight. My boyfriend loves me the way i am infact hes telling me not to lose it but im doing it for myself at the end of the day and just want to get back down to 8st which is perfect for my height.
Posted 24/03/2009 10:31:11
Posted by memyselfandi
RE: 'The wedding's off!'
Her figure looks fine to me
Posted 24/03/2009 11:00:12
Posted by Suse
RE: 'The wedding's off!'
Poor Natalie, she looked so happy a month ago on Paul O'Grady talking about her fiance Ben. Wendy died the same day. Mabe it is a coincidence or maybe it really has made her think that all is not well in the relationship. Perhaps that is why she regained the weight - together with her target weight being far too low for her of course. She was far, far too thin for her body frame.
I don't judge people by their weight not that Natalie is that big anyway. I like her and I'm not ashamed to admit it. She seems down to earth and obviously very caring in the way she has helped and supported John Burns in his loss. At the moment though, she is not only grieving for Wendy but it has probably bought back the loss of her mum when she was only 19. And now, that bit older, she is aware of just how great a loss it has been.
If it is meant to be, she will sort it out with Ben. I kind of hope so, because they seemed really happy together and he seemed to love her no matter what. If not, I hope she will get comfortable with her own body and get back to her acting!
Posted 24/03/2009 15:31:05
Posted by Lorna Waite
RE: 'The wedding's off!'
She's clearly not a size 18 - leave the poor girl alone to grieve.
Posted 24/03/2009 16:04:25
Posted by Tigerlilly
RE: 'The wedding's off!'
There is to much written about weight,were all different and what worrys me is when my 9 year old daughter asks me if she fat,she wears age 8 jeans and has the waist ajusted,i tell her, she's how she should be healthy and beautiful.Natalie is beautiful weather she's a 6 or an 18!!!!
Posted 24/03/2009 18:16:31