A First Failure, A Second Chance
Aside from generally being not only supportive but also pushing Sting in his pursuit of success, Frances specifically had a hand in many of the events that would shape Sting's career and life. It was she who got Sting the part in the Wrigley's chewing gum ad which called for him and his fellow bandmates to dye their hair blond; it was she who urged Sting to audition for Quadrophenia, which ultimately led to greater exposure for the band; and, ironically, it was due to her that Sting came to know Trudie Styler, who would later become his second wife.
In 1980, Frances got the co-starring role (opposite Peter O'Toole) in a stage production of Shakespeare's Macbeth. Also cast in the play was a young, unknown actor named Trudie. Frances befriended Trudie and took her under her wing, and so the three became good friends. Although Sting has said that he and Trudie were completely Platonic for at least the first year of their acquaintance, it was during this time Sting became to be widely known as a stereotypical rock star when it came to women on the road. In a 1980 interview Sting claimed that he needed to "make love" every single night—perhaps not mindful of how easy it was to put two and two together, since Frances did not always accompany Sting when The Police were on tour. For her part, Frances did not seem to revel in being seen as a rock star's wife, instead staying in the background even when she did come on the road. Also, it is certainly hard to imagine that she was unaware of Sting's philanderings (reportedly discreet yet commonplace): it went as far as her being asked about it in one of the rare interviews she gave.
Clearly, Sting was not happy during this period of his life. "It certainly taught me that success and happiness
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