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?
Lasting Power
“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.
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".
Popping the Question!
The two had been dating for almost two years by now and on her 20th birthday, something extremely romantic happened — Michael Weatherly proposed to her! Her parents and many of her friends disapproved of their relationship, especially because of the 12-year age gap between them, but she was still happy to accept his hand.
Now, that’s a birthday to remember! But soon, everyone was questioning her decision; "would their relationship last?" "Is she rushing into things?" This did not deter Alba, so after two years of dating Weatherly, it seemed the time was right for them to take the next step as a couple.
Well… That Didn’t Last
Alba knew that getting married this young might spell trouble for her, but she trusted Michael and thought he knew better. Despite their relationship and experiencing great highs together, the pair broke things off in 2003. Their marriage lasted 3 years – which even by Hollywood standards, is pretty good!
After some time on the screen and living her life as a movie star, she discovered that the real world was tough, and soon she knew exactly what she did and didn’t want, relationships included. Role after role fell in her lap, and her name was everywhere. But it seemed that the single Alba was ready for a special someone to come into her life.