Heather Mills on Life With Sir Paul

Oct. 25, 2002 — -- You'd think that becoming engaged to marry former Beatle Paul McCartney would mark the beginning of a pretty wonderful year for any woman, especially one who endured an abusive childhood and lost a leg in a freak accident. But Sir Paul's new bride, 34-year-old Heather Mills, said it was "worse than the year I lost my leg."

It's not the marriage that's been difficult for Mills. It's the limelight that has accompanied it.

Mills has lived a life almost as remarkable in its own way as McCartney's. She was considered for the Nobel Peace Prize, yet she has a criminal record for theft. She has addressed the United Nations, yet has been the subject of scathing tabloid accusations. She was a fashion model who lost a leg in a freak accident.

Once abused and homeless, living on the streets of London, she is now Lady McCartney, married this past June to one of the richest and most famous men in the world.

Probably the Worst Year of My Life

Mills had every reason to think this last year would be the best of her life. She had a fairy-tale wedding to McCartney at a castle in Ireland. But living happily ever after is proving just a bit difficult for the couple.

Mills described the past year as "horrendous, publicly. Really, probably the worst year of my life."

She said the couple ended up spending day after day explaining and having to justify themselves to the British tabloids, which ran stories topped with such hurtful headlines as "Watch Out, Paul" and "Henpecked McCartney."

Mills says she is being attacked out of spite because she had refused to talk about her romance. She said she had kept quiet out of respect for McCartney and his children but it all backfired. She said the tabloids "got their knives out."

Mills says McCartney would love to speak out and tell the press to leave her alone. Instead, he suggested that Mills publish in America her remarkable story, titled A Single Step. The royalties will be donated to Mills' charity, the U.N. Adopt-A-Minefield program.

Struggling Through a Traumatic Childhood

In order to understand who Mills is today, we have to go back to who she was. She says she was emotionally and physically abused by her father — an allegation her father denies. Then, her mother left her to care for herself, and her younger brother and sister.