Chrissie Mullen is best known publicly as the first wife of Queen guitarist Brian May. Although she has largely stayed out of the spotlight, Mullen was an important part of May’s life during Queen’s rise from a developing rock band to international fame. The couple met in the late 1960s, married in 1976 and had three children together before separating in 1988.
Unlike her famous former husband, Mullen has maintained a notably private life. As a result, reliable public information about her personal background, education and professional career is limited. The most well-documented parts of her biography concern her long relationship with May and their three children.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Christine Mullen |
| Also Known As | Chrissie Mullen, Chrissy Mullen, Chrissie May |
| Known For | Brian May’s former wife |
| Spouse | Brian May |
| Marriage | May 29, 1976 – 1988 |
| Children | Three — Jimmy May, Louisa May, and Emily Ruth May |
| Profession | Not reliably documented |
| Nationality | Not reliably documented |
| Known Public Connection | Queen guitarist Brian May |
| Public Profile | Maintains a largely private life |
| Notable Appearances | Live Aid (1985); Queen Live at Wembley Stadium (1986), as herself/archive footage |
Early Life & Background
Public records and reputable biographical sources provide very little independently verified information about Chrissie Mullen’s childhood, parents, education or early career.
IMDb lists her birth name as Christine Mullen and gives Chrissie Mullen and Chrissy Mullen among her known names.
Brian May has provided some first-hand details about how they met. In an account published on his official website, May recalled that Mullen was living with him before they married and described her as the woman who later became his wife.
The couple met in 1968 through Mullen’s flatmate, Josephine “Jo” Morris, who was then dating Queen drummer Roger Taylor.
Relationship With Brian May
Mullen and May’s relationship began before Queen became one of the world’s most successful rock bands. During their early years together, May was still pursuing his education and developing his musical career.
May has spoken positively about that period of his life. In a 2010 interview with The Guardian, he recalled living with his future wife in a small bedsit while Queen was beginning to achieve success. He described that period as one of the happiest times of his life.
May’s official website records that he and Christine Mullen married on May 29, 1976, at St Osmund’s Roman Catholic Church in Barnes, London. The same source records that they later divorced in 1988.
Their marriage therefore covered much of Queen’s breakthrough period, including the years in which the band released landmark albums and became an international touring act.
Children
Chrissie Mullen and Brian May had three children:
- Jimmy May, born in 1978
- Louisa May, born in 1981
- Emily Ruth May, born in 1987
Their three children are consistently identified in biographical sources as the children of Mullen and May.
The family remained connected to May’s life while Queen was touring extensively. In a 1998 interview, May said that his marriage to Mullen and his role as a father had survived the demands of touring for many years. He explained that the relationship eventually broke down when he stopped touring and the couple struggled to adapt to a more ordinary routine.
Separation and Divorce
Mullen and May separated in 1988, bringing their marriage to an end after more than a decade. Their split received significant attention because of May’s relationship with actress Anita Dobson.
The Independent reported that May had been married to Mullen, the mother of his three children, when his relationship with Dobson became a subject of public attention.
May later spoke openly about the emotional difficulties surrounding the breakdown of his first marriage. In an interview published on his official website, he said that he had fallen in love with someone else and that reconciliation with Mullen was no longer possible.
May married Anita Dobson in 2000. Mullen has not maintained a comparable public profile, and there is limited reliable information about her life following the divorce.
Career and Public Life
There is no sufficiently reliable public documentation to establish a detailed professional career for Chrissie Mullen. Some online sources describe her as a model, but that claim is not supported strongly enough by authoritative sources to present it as established fact.
Her public significance comes primarily from her relationship with Brian May and her place in the personal history of one of rock music’s most recognizable guitarists.
Mullen also appears in archival material connected with Queen. IMDb lists her as appearing as herself in the 1985 Live Aid television special and in archive footage associated with Queen Live at Wembley Stadium.
Personal Life
Chrissie Mullen has generally maintained a private life since her divorce from Brian May. There is little reliable information about her current activities, relationships or personal circumstances.
May has continued to speak about the importance of his first family in interviews. In discussing the end of his marriage, he has described himself as having strongly identified with being a husband and father during that stage of his life.
Because Mullen has largely remained outside the public eye, claims about her present-day life should be treated cautiously unless supported by a reliable source.
Net Worth
There is no credible, independently verified estimate of Chrissie Mullen’s personal net worth from a reputable financial or entertainment source. Figures published on some celebrity websites are speculative, so no net-worth figure is included here.
Interesting Facts About Chrissie Mullen
- Chrissie Mullen’s birth name is reported as Christine Mullen.
- She met Brian May in 1968 through her flatmate Josephine “Jo” Morris.
- Brian May’s official website records that the couple married on May 29, 1976, at St Osmund’s Roman Catholic Church in Barnes, London.
- Mullen and May had three children: Jimmy, Louisa and Emily Ruth.
- Her marriage to May ended in 1988.
- Mullen was present in the Queen circle during the band’s rise and is credited as herself in archival material connected with Live Aid and Queen’s Wembley performances.
FAQs About Chrissie Mullen
Who is Chrissie Mullen?
Chrissie Mullen is best known as Brian May’s first wife. She was married to the Queen guitarist from 1976 until their divorce in 1988 and is the mother of his three children.
When did Chrissie Mullen and Brian May meet?
Mullen and May met in 1968 through Mullen’s flatmate Josephine “Jo” Morris, who was dating Roger Taylor at the time.
When did Chrissie Mullen marry Brian May?
According to May’s official website, Brian May and Christine Mullen married on May 29, 1976, at St Osmund’s Roman Catholic Church in Barnes, London.
How many children does Chrissie Mullen have?
Chrissie Mullen and Brian May have three children: Jimmy, Louisa and Emily Ruth May.
When did Chrissie Mullen and Brian May divorce?
The couple divorced in 1988 after separating that year.
What is known about Chrissie Mullen’s career?
Reliable public information about Mullen’s professional career is limited. Some online sources describe her as a model, but that detail is not sufficiently well documented by authoritative sources to state it as confirmed.
Is Chrissie Mullen still involved with Brian May?
Mullen and May are no longer married. May subsequently married actress Anita Dobson in 2000. Reliable sources provide little current information about Mullen’s private life.
Conclusion
Chrissie Mullen occupies a quiet but significant place in Brian May’s personal history. She met the future Queen guitarist before the band’s international breakthrough, shared the years of its rapid rise with him, and became the mother of his three children. Their marriage ended in 1988, after which Mullen largely stepped away from public attention. The limited verified information available today reflects that privacy, making her family connection to May the clearest documented part of her public biography.
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