was born on 17th March 1976 (St.Patrick's Day) in the Rotunda hospital, Dublin. He was the second youngest in the family, with two older brothers Mark (29) and Alan (25), an older sister Michelle (28) and a younger brother Tony (18).
He was brought up in Seville Place, one of the rougher areas of Dublin's Northside. However Stephen says of the area "It's not as bad as people think it is. For years it's been put down as slums, which it's not. The area where I lived does have a bad drug problem, and some of my friends who I grew up with are in a bad way, which is why I'm very much anti-drugs"
"I have lots of fond memories of growing up in Dublin. I had a happy childhood with a very close family. I seem to remember spending a lot of time hanging out in the playground in Sheriff Street, near where I used to live. There was a boys' playground with slides and a girls' playground with swings. We had a football pitch too. I grew up in a close community and I remember once a year we'd have a community week where there were competitions for things like snooker, darts and fancy dress. All the kids would queue up and they'd hand us out a packet of crisps, some sweets and a drink each."
Steve's mother Margaret worked in a local school and his father was a painter and decorator, and Stephen's first home was in a tiny flat in Sherriff Street - "When I was a kid we were living in Sherriff Street flats, and there was this ghost of a man who used to come out. I used to see him all the time, and I'd scream. I was around four when I saw him for the first time walking around the flat, and he used to come out every night."
But Stephen says that overall he had a happy childhood... "I had a happy childhood, not too much darkness at all. Not that I was spoiled because I was a pretty boy or anything like it, at home or at school. I get my downs but they don't last long."
Even from a young age, Stephen was destined for showbusiness, starring in the lead role in his junior school production of Joseph and the Amazing Technnicolor Dreamcoat. When he was older, Steve joined the Gaiety Theatre group in Dublin city centre. He was eager to pass on his love of performing and would spend many evenings teaching drama to youngsters at the local youth centre. He directed short plays and began choreorgraphing dance routines when he joined a disco dance troupe called Black Magic. One of four boys in the troupe of 12, Black Magic became a serious pastime, with Steve entering the group into competitions all over Dublin, and they won the all-Ireland Disco Dance finals when Steve was 13 years old.
Stephen also modelled for the International Modelling agency in Dublin when he was 14, when he moddeled clothes for some of Dublin's leading departement stores. He used to go up to Butlins every Wednesday to do a fashion show and dance routines. Steve moved to Assets modelling agency when he was 16, and he used to sing karaoke - and once won ?00 in a karaoke competition!
Stephen's first TV appearance was for Jo Maxi (an Irish youth show), after he had directed a play called Whether You Like it or Not. Stephen had his first taste of stardom when he was 16 when Alan Parker filmed "The Commitments" around Dublin's Northside - giving many of the locals the chance to become film extras for the day - Stephen can be seen in the opening scenes of the movie (see picture on the left - Stephen's in the brown shirt). Later Steve was also an extra in the film "In The Name of the Father", where he was on a roof throwing bricks - but his part was cut from the final edit of the film.
"I always knew I wanted to do something in the entertainment industry when I left school, but it wasn't something I was pushed in to. I loved drama and dancing at school and I would always be the first one who'd get up in front of the class to do some acting. I had a good drama teacher who encouraged me, but I think a lot of my teachers thought I should stick my head in books and concentrate on studying so I'd get a good job when I left school. My ambition was to be successful doing something to do with music - not necessarily being famous. Coming from a poor family, I didn't want to have to worry about money when I was older. I had a dream and I wasn't going to let anyone take that away from me."
Stephen was studying for his Leaving Certificate (final exams) at the North Strand Technical School, when he heard of the auditions for Boyzone, and he was desperate to give it a try. He no contact number and no details about the auditions so he rang up the Star newspaper in Dublin who gave him Louis Walsh's number.
"When I auditioned for Boyzone I was confident because it was something I really wanted and I thought, 'Right. I'm going to do this." And I went in there and I danced and I sang George Michael's Careless Whisper, Lionel Ritchie's Hello and Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx." Stephen had 4 auditions for Boyzone - more than any other member of the group! But he made it, leaving school to join Boyzone - who were officially formed on November 18th 1993.
Steve is now 24 years old, highlights of his career so far being recording the song Shooting Star for the Disney movie Hercules, recording No Matter What for Andrew Lloyd Webber, advertising Diet Coke, and presenting various programmes and award ceremonies for the Disney Channel. Stephen has also recently voiced the character of Blackavar for the TV remake of classic animated tale Watership Down and recorded a version of Bright Eyes for the title theme of the show! Stephen loves Disney films and has said that his next ambition is to do the voiceover for a Disney character. Stephen has just released his debut solo single and album, both entitled "New Beginning"!
"I'm happier than I've ever been now. It seems weird looking back on my six years with Boyzone because I was only 17 when I started out and I think I've changed a lot. I think the biggest change has been since June 16 last year when I 'came out'. A lot has changed for me, but it's definitely for the better. I'm more relaxed now- before I couldn't be myself and I used to be so paranoid that it would all come out about me being gay. It really is a weight off my shoulders- the main thing is that the support has been unbelieveable. I've had so many letters and good wishes from fans, so thanks again to everyone! I've always enjoyed being in Boyzone and making music, but if I had to say what's been my happiest time I'd definitely say now."
"Before, I had so many worries about coming out and now I'm enjoying my work and it's nice to know that people are still supporting me. People often ask me why I didn't come out earlier, but I had to wait for the right time. I didn't know how everyone would react. Even if I'd known how supportive people would be, I don't think I would have come out sooner. I think the way it happened was the way it was meant to be."
"I still have loads of ambitions. I hope A New Beginning is successful - I really want it to do well and I'm working really hard on it. I'm scared, but I enjoyed doing it so I hope people will enjoy it to. If it does well I'll be the happiest person in the world, but if not, at least I've tried. What then? I'd like to do some acting and I've been having talks about a musical, so watch this space."
Source: http://www.stephengately.org/
