Michael Owen on wife Louise, family guilt and the ‘boring’ label that’s followed him for years

Football legend Michael Owen and his daughter Gemma have opened up about life behind closed doors, from the competitive streak that runs through the family to Michael’s parental guilt and the “boring” reputation that has followed him for years. The former England striker also reveals why his wife, Louise, remains the person he relies on most. 

For decades, Ballon d’Or winner Michael – who played as a striker for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester United and England – kept his private life largely out of the spotlight. But now, alongside his 23-year-old daughter Gemma, an international dressage rider and presenter, the 46-year-old is showing fans a different side of himself.

Their new Prime Video series, Meet the Owens, follows the family at home and explores Michael and Gemma’s shared passion for horse racing. 

Sitting down exclusively with HELLO!, the father and daughter reflect on filming the series, their close-knit family and some of the more difficult moments they’ve faced together. 

Setting the record straight on Michael’s image

Michael is hoping to change public perception with his brand new docuseries. “To be honest, my mates and football colleagues have giggled for 25 years at how people perceive me! Early on in my career, I was probably micromanaged into being this ‘whiter-than-white’ figure who never did anything wrong,” Michael tells HELLO!.

“If you’re seen as something you’re not, you naturally want people to see how you really are. It’s not an annoyance at all, but it will be nice for people to see me as me around my family.”

He adds: “It was a misrepresentation. I didn’t do this series to say, ‘I’ve been misrepresented for 46 years,’ because it doesn’t affect me, but I do think people will be surprised when they see me as I really am at home.” 

Sharing her own take on the matter, daughter Gemma adds: “Dad has always been the centre of attention – the life and soul of the party! He’s got a bit of a reputation for being boring or miserable, so it’s really nice for people to see him in a different light around his home comforts.” 

Inside the new Prime Video series Meet the Owens

While Meet the Owens gives viewers unprecedented access to the family, inviting cameras into their home wasn’t a decision they took lightly. 

“It was a big decision, but it felt like a great opportunity to show another side to dad and highlight his passion for racing,” says Gemma. “It brought us all closer as a family, and we really enjoyed filming.”

In fact, the project was never originally intended to offer quite such an intimate look at the family.

“It started off being about the stables, but the crew became so friendly and relaxed that we let them really into our family life,” Michael explains, adding: “We are just normal people, we didn’t want anything staged. We’re not actors, so it’s just us as we are.” 

Royal Ascot encounters with Queen Elizabeth II 

Racing remains at the heart of both the series and the Owen family, and it has also given Michael some extraordinary experiences away from football – including several encounters with the late Queen Elizabeth II. 

“The Queen was an incredible lady, and I had the pleasure of meeting her on several occasions,” Michael reflects. “In the show, I actually tell one of my stories about her as we’re preparing for Royal Ascot and trying on our top hat and tails! 

“It was just a lovely, lovely moment for me and my wife to meet her, have lunch with her at Windsor Castle, and then ride in the carriages down the straight at Royal Ascot. It was just an incredible experience.” 

For Michael, the late Queen’s genuine love of racing also demonstrated just how important the royal family’s association with the sport remains. 

He adds how essential the Monarchy’s passion for horses remains to the sport: “It’s wonderful for racing. Royal Ascot is magical, and people come from all over the world because they’re envious of the history and the Monarchy we have here. She attended every day because she was genuinely passionate about it, and I greatly admired her for that.” 

The Owens’ fiercely competitive family dynamic

That same passion fuels their home life, alongside a famously competitive spirit. Standing out in the yard, it’s clear that both father and daughter share the same relentless drive. 

“We are a very competitive family!” Gemma laughs. “Even if it’s just a quiz or games night at home, we all have that trait from Dad. Mum is more ‘enjoy the process,’ but Dad is always like, ‘Are we going to win?'”

“I consciously fostered that,” Michael admits. “In my house, when we played games, it was for the Championship of the World. There were prizes, forfeits, and tears! Life is a bit of a fight to get to the top of any profession. I’ve always believed that being competitive and fighting to win is an important life lesson.” 

Michael’s son James and living with Stargardt Disease

Beyond the fun and games, the docuseries also delves into their personal lives. The pair speak very candidly about Michael’s 20-year-old son James, who lives with Stargardt disease. When asked about the parental guilt he previously touched on following James’s diagnosis, Michael reflects on whether that feeling ever truly leaves a parent. “Oh God, no,” Michael admits. 

“When it first became apparent he had the condition, the feeling of remorse and sadness spins your mind. You think, ‘Why us? Why him? Whose fault was it?’ It can only really be mine and my wife’s fault in many ways – we created him at the end of the day. So when you’re first going through that sadness, you do feel an element of guilt. 

“It was guilt for a little while, but it’s not guilt now – it’s just hoping someone can fix it, because it is fixable. At home, we totally forget about it because he’s so normal in every way.” 

Gemma agrees that her brother’s outlook inspires the entire family: “James has come to a point in his life where he’s accepted his condition and is just trying to make the most of life. He realises there are a load of other people in far less fortunate positions, and in some ways he’s very lucky that he still has his health in every other way. 

“He jokes about it and takes the mick out of himself, which is a real strength to be able to own it. He has his own incredible coping mechanisms, and he deals with it incredibly well.” 

“You really do forget about it until you go skiing or whatever,” Michael chuckles warmly. “He doesn’t see a bump and then goes somersaulting – about three somersaults down the hill! And you think, ‘Oh my word, right James, follow somebody else now!’ He handles it brilliantly.” 

Childhood sweetheart Louise Owen remains his anchor 

And through the extraordinary highs of Michael’s football career, his transition into racing and the challenges the family have faced privately, there has been one constant: his childhood sweetheart, Louise. 

The pair met at primary school and have now been married for more than two decades, having famously tied the knot in an exclusive HELLO! wedding back in 2005. 

Reflecting on their early bond, Michael explains that settling down young felt completely natural: “We knew each other really young in life, and we were always going to get married. I was mentally quite mature early on, and when you know you’ve met the right person, it’s a simple thing to do.” 

Yet Michael reveals that, rather than becoming less dependent on his wife with age, the opposite is true. “I probably need her more now than when I was 18!” Michael reveals. “She keeps me on the straight and narrow today more than ever. 

“Back then, I was often away playing – I would have been a professional footballer with or without Louise as a teenager – but if I think about it now, if I didn’t have her, what would I be doing? I’d probably be in the pub until midnight every night! I appreciate her now more than ever.” 

Meet the Owens premieres on 28 August 2026 on Prime Video. The series was produced by award-winning production company Whisper, led by Emmy-nominated Documentaries Director Chris Wallwork.