Why Charlotte Church disappeared from spotlight 10 years ago and gave away her millions

Having topped the charts as a child, Charlotte Church was a household name from a young age before going on to disappear from the spotlight as an adult.

The Welsh singer had sold over ten million records worldwide by 2007 and has even dabbled in acting. However, she hasn’t released a studio album since 2010 and over the years has stepped back into a quieter life away from fame.

Having ‘given away’ her millions, Church does occasionally appear on TV, like being on this series of Celebrity Traitors.

And she’s even admitted that the BBC show has ‘restored’ her faith in famous people.

“I just really keep out of that whole celebrity scene, and I have perhaps been a little bit too harsh in my judgment of celebrities,” the 39-year-old said.

But, from singing to witchcraft, what has Charlotte Church been up to since stepping away from fame?

She was just 11 when she rose to fame. (Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)

'No longer' a millionaire

Last year, Church told Closer magazine that she was ‘no longer’ a millionaire and had downsized from her mega mansion to a semi-detached home.

She told The Big issue: “I'm still close to my roots, although I'm in a different socio-economic category and I've basically given all my money away.

“It's complicated having money, it changes the playing field.”

A huge career pivot

Nowadays, one of her main ventures is running ‘The Dreaming’, which are wellness retreats led by her and Tree Carr. There’s also one ‘witch’ five-day retreat for ‘souls ready to embody their magic through ritual, nature, and deep witchcraft practices’.

Yeah, remember when she was on This Morning doing the sound bath that Alison Hammond went viral for laughing through? That kind of thing seems to be a part of The Dreaming.

While there is a ‘Pay What You Can’ scheme available, a simple day retreat starts from £150, with other prices going up to £3,000 per person.

Church stepped back from the spotlight. (Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA)

'I keep myself to myself'

Back in 2019, the former singer and actor also set up the Awen Project with husband Jonathan Powell. A free-to-learn centre, the school is described as a place where ‘young people are championed to be themselves and follow their passions as active participants in a democratic community’.

With Celebrity Traitors marking one of her rare returns to TV in the past decade, the BBC had asked Church if the public were going to be seeing a ‘different side’ to her.

“I’m not sure. I don't really do much telly,” she said.

“I keep myself to myself, I've got my beautiful life in Wales, that I love, a lot of it is centred around healing and nature, connection and helping people. I've also got three kids, so I'm a busy mum, so I don't know if people will see a different side, but they are going to see the real me.”