“I was so in love with him and thought, ‘There’s no way this guy can be bad if I like him so much,’” she has said of her real first crush. She found her feelings for him made her doubt the Christian beliefs that helped to shape her into who she was.
It opened her eyes, and she began experimenting and walking down a more secular path, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be. The relationship barely lasted despite their intense connection and soon fizzled out. More importantly, Alba decided from then on that she wouldn’t let religion come in between her and the things she wanted.
What a Man
While most of Alba’s teen dates were boring – most men around her age cared only about “hanging out at the bar”. For an ambitious young woman who was already serious about her career in showbiz, this was hardly the crowd she wanted to be in. She had been working for a few years and was much more mature than many of her peers.
This is where her mystery man comes in. A little older, and clearly charming enough to pique Alba’s interest, he was quick to ask her out. He was certainly well out of high school, and we’re sure her parents protested his advances, but he had a certain something about him that made him stand out from the rest.
Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dancer
She met him at a club, the two connected, and he seemed to be what she was looking for. Whether it was the thrill of seeing someone who had a different outlook on life or it was her rebellious streak coming out in full form, it’s easy to see that her parents had issues with them dating.
Many of her born-again Christian friends also disapproved of their relationship, and soon enough, her feelings for this guy made Alba begin to question her own faith. Was this happily ever after, at 16? The beliefs she grew up with didn't sit well with her anymore, especially since her new crush didn't believe the way she did.
Alba’s Big Break
After starring in the series "Flipper", and of course, after her crazy ordeal, Alba began appearing as a guest on a number of shows. These little cameos and guest appearances greatly helped with her exposure and eventually led to her big break. While she was flirting with a number of TV shows, she also decided to take a walk on the wild side.
She soon shed the shackles of her faith and conservative parents and began living more freely. Having worked through her teens for her career, she sacrificed those blissful years in order to hit the big time. And that moment finally arrived. Her breakthrough role came through as the leader of the sci-fi series "Dark Angel".
Rags to Riches Story
On her 18th birthday, it seemed that all was going great for the young star, and it was a milestone – she had successfully transitioned from a formerly bullied teen to one of the hottest young celebs in the world! We’re sure that there were never again any shortages of male suitors. Enter Michael Weatherly, her co-star on "Dark Angel", who also happened to be 12 years her senior!
After her a change in her outlook on life and a slight change in values, Alba took the plunge with Weatherly, and for good reason: the pair had great chemistry, both on-screen and off-screen. Alba was falling for Weatherly just as hard as he was for her – but was he her forever man?