Before Robbie Williams found love with wife Ayda Field, he dated two former Spice Girls

Robbie Williams is one of the biggest musical superstars on the planet, with a string of hit songs and albums.

After finding fame as a member of '90s boy band Take That while still a teenager, he won a legion of mostly female fans.

He was soon making headlines as much for his love life as his music, and embarked on a string of high profile romances with the likes of Nicole Appleton and two former Spice Girls before finally settling down with wife Ayda Field.

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Nicole Appleton

In 1997, Williams met singer Nicole Appleton of the all-girl group All Saints while filming the UK show Top of the Pops.

They embarked on a nine-month relationship, and even became engaged before calling it off.

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Williams later reflected on the relationship in the 2023 Netflix documentary Robbie Williams.

He said while doomed, the relationship was "very important to me to learn to become the man I was supposed to be."

"I couldn't look after myself. I was in no fit state to offer myself as a partner, and the relationship with Nic ended a few months [later]," he said.

Melanie Chisolm

That same year, Williams was at rehearsals for MTV Europe Music Awards when another girl-band member caught his eye.

Melanie Chisolm, otherwise known as Mel C or Sporty Spice, was one of the few people who understood the price of fame and the two were already friends when something changed.

Chisolm said in her memoir, Who I Am: My Story, "As I looked out to the empty venue, who do I see, right at the front, watching me, with a big grin on his face? Robbie bloody Williams. I think, I guess, he must have asked me out that night."

She said they went on their first proper date in November 1997, right before he released his biggest-selling hit, Angels.

"It was very exciting, albeit short-lived. The truth of the matter was we had a couple of dates, but he was a mess, I was a mess. Nothing came of it, and it broke my heart.

"Sadly, Robbie did behave badly. He led me on and then abruptly dropped me at a time when I was incredibly vulnerable."

Geri Halliwell

A few years later Williams started dating Chisolm's former band mate, Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice).

By then, the Spice Girls had broken up and Halliwell had also embarked on a solo career.

But the two had their own demons. Williams was then a newly recovering alcoholic while Halliwell was seeking treatment for an eating disorder.

Still, Williams said in the Netflix documentary he has happy memories of their time together, and even wrote his hit song Eternal about her.

"We really got on really well. It was fun," he said.

The two eventually split up, with Williams saying he 'dumped' Halliwell because he was told by paparazzi that she tipped them off about their whereabouts during a holiday in the south of France, something he later found out was untrue.

Cameron Diaz

In 2003, rumours began circulating that Williams was dating Hollywood's then golden girl Cameron Diaz, who had just broken up with Justin Timberlake after four years together.

There were even reports they were photographed holding hands and kissing while strolling along Santa Monica beach.

The pictures failed to surface and the pair have never confirmed or denied the rumours, although Williams has credited Diaz for playing a part in him eventually settling down with wife Ayda Field.

Ayda Field

In 2006, Williams met US actress Ayda Field, who was then best known for her role as Angela Moroni in Days of Our Lives.

Williams said in his memoir, Reveal, that he arranged to go on a date with her but stood her up.

"I was doing a lot of pills that were making me antisocial. So we had plans but I flaked," he said.

After bombarding her with messages, they made plans to meet at his house, but he told the documentary that when she arrived, "I'd just seen off my dealer, who I was sleeping with at the time."

Ayda elaborated, "The house was completely f---ing dark, no candles, no light. I was like, 'This is weird,' so we were sitting talking, we had nothing in common."

They agreed to go to a party together and on the car ride there something clicked.

"Maybe because we both surrendered to the fact that we were not each other's person and this was a total mess, we just were like completely loose with each other," she said.

"I cannot even tell you what happened. It was like the universe opened up."

The two started dating but in 2007 Williams broke up with her over the phone in the early hours of the morning.

"He [was] like, 'My management have done an intervention and they're gonna take me to rehab. I can't be in a relationship, I have to get better and I can't be with you. I have to break up with you.' I remember thinking, 'I just want you to get better'."

After he completed treatment, the two got back together, but were on another break when Cameron Diaz intervened.

Williams said during a 2020 episode of his and Ayda's podcast, (Staying) At Home With The Williamses, that he was at famed Chateau Marmont hotel in LA one night when he started talking to Diaz and Drew Barrymore.

"I started to espouse about this brilliant person that I had just ended a relationship with and there were all of these words coming out of my mouth about how incredible you were, how beautiful, smart, funny," he said.

"And Cameron Diaz said, 'It doesn't sound like that one's over,' and in that moment the universe went, 'Go to Ayda, be with her, marry her'."

The couple got engaged in 2009 and wed in August 2010 at Williams' Beverly Hills home.

Williams, now 50, and Field, 45, are parents to four children, and will celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary this year.

Remember to drink responsibly. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline on 1800 250 015 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Anyone needing support with eating disorders or body image issues should contact Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673. You can also chat online or email