Patsy Kensit | |
|---|---|
 Kensit at theBritish Academy Film Awards in 2009 | |
| Born | Patricia Jude Francis Kensit (1968-03-04)4 March 1968 (age 57) |
| Alma mater | Corona Theatre School Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Television | |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Pop |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Labels | Sony Music |
| Formerly of | Eighth Wonder |
Musical artist | |
| Website | www |
Patricia Jude Francis Kensit (born 4 March 1968) is an English actress and singer. Beginning her career as achild actor, Kensit gained attention when she acted in a string of commercials forBirds Eye frozen peas. She went on to appear in films such asThe Great Gatsby (1974),Gold (1974),Alfie Darling (1975),Hennessy (1975),The Blue Bird (1976) andHanover Street (1979). In 1983, Kensit formed and became the lead singer of the pop bandEighth Wonder, which released the top-20 hits "I'm Not Scared" and "Cross My Heart" before disbanding in 1989.
Kensit achieved further success in herbreakthrough role as Suzette in the musical filmAbsolute Beginners (1986) and as Rika van den Haas inLethal Weapon 2 (1989) before starring in the filmsTwenty-One (1991),Blame It on the Bellboy (1992),Bitter Harvest (1993),Full Eclipse (1993),Angels & Insects (1995),Love and Betrayal (1995) andGrace of My Heart (1996).
Following a return to television, between 2004 and 2006, Kensit played the role ofSadie King in theITV soap operaEmmerdale and then that ofFaye Morton in theBBC One medical dramaHolby City from 2007 to 2010, and again for an episode in 2019. Throughout 2023, she playedEmma Harding inEastEnders. Kensit has been married to musiciansDan Donovan,Jim Kerr,Liam Gallagher andJeremy Healy.
Kensit was nominated for theYoung Artist Award for Best Juvenile Actress in a Motion Picture for her role inHanover Street (1979). In 1991, she was nominated for theIndependent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead inTwenty-One (1991), and later had several nominations for her role inEmmerdale.
Patricia Jude Francis Kensit was born on 4 March 1968, at theGeneral Lying-In Hospital,Lambeth, to James and Margaret Rose (née Doohan). Kensit's maternal grandparents hailed fromCounty Leitrim, Ireland.[1] She has an older brother. Her mother was a secretary atDior and former model, who had previously datedAga Khan IV,[2] while Kensit's father was a close associate of both theKray Twins and theRichardson Gang, earning himself the nickname "Jimmy the Dip", and was involved in theGreat Train Robbery.[2][3] He served time in prison before Kensit was born and used a cover as an antiques dealer.[4] Kensit's godfather wasReggie Kray.[5] Her paternal grandfather was a robber and counterfeiter.[6]
Kensit spent her childhood living on acouncil estate inHounslow. She attendedNewland House School,St Catherine's School, Twickenham, andCorona Theatre School.[2]
In 1972, at the age of four, Kensit appeared in a television advert forBirds Eye frozen peas.[7] She had her first big-screen role in the filmFor the Love of Ada. Her next film role was two years later inThe Great Gatsby, withRobert Redford andMia Farrow, the latter of whom she portrayed in the 1995 biopic,Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story. Later in 1974, she had a small role in the thriller filmGold alongsideRoger Moore andSusannah York. She then starred inAlfie Darling (1975) withJoan Collins. Following that, Kensit had a leading role in the 1976 Soviet-American co-production,The Blue Bird, and she struck up a friendship with actress and co-starElizabeth Taylor.[2] In 1979, Kensit starred in the war-romance filmHanover Street, oppositeHarrison Ford andChristopher Plummer. She was nominated forYoung Artist Award for Best Juvenile Actress in a Motion Picture at theYoung Artist Awards for her role in the film.[8]
In the early 1980s, Kensit began to appear regularly in films. In 1981, she starred as Estella in theBBC adaptation ofGreat Expectations. An important role was Lady Margaret Plantagenet in the 1982BBC Television Shakespeare production ofRichard III. In the same year, she starred as the title character in the Walt Disney episodeThe Adventures of Pollyanna.
In 1983, she starred as the leading character in the TV seriesLuna. The following year she starred in the children's playThe Prattling Princess. In 1985, she starred in the filmsSilas Marner andThe Corsican Brothers.
In 1983, with her brother Jamie Kensit, she helped set up the band Eighth Wonder, which includedSteve Grantley and Geoff Beauchamp.[7]
In 1985, Kensit pursued a dual career as a singer and an actress. She starred as Eppie in an adaptation ofSilas Marner, withBen Kingsley. At the time, Kensit stated: "All I want is to be more famous than anything or anyone".[6]
In 1986, she won the lead female role in the film version ofAbsolute Beginners, based on the book byColin MacInnes. In November 1987, she sang a duet with the Italian singer and songwriterEros Ramazzotti, entitledLa luce buona delle stelle ("The Good Light of the Stars").
In 1988, Kensit's band Eighth Wonder had twoTop 40 singles: "I'm Not Scared", written byNeil Tennant andChris Lowe and produced by thePet Shop Boys andPhil Harding (forPWL), which reached Number 7 in the British charts. "Cross My Heart" reached Number 13. Although the band's success quickly waned, Kensit focused solely on her acting career, appearing in the 1989 filmLethal Weapon 2 as Rika van den Haas, a South African consulate secretary with whom detectiveMartin Riggs, played byMel Gibson, falls in love.
In 1991, she had a leading role in the romantic comedy,Does This Mean We're Married?[9] during which she sings the song "Rambo Doll".[9]
Kensit appeared in the 1991 filmTwenty-One, for which she received a nomination forIndependent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. Of her role,Variety magazine wrote, "Fans of Kensit get plenty of her; her lovely face and form are always the center of attention. The cool control with which she executes the role is admirable".[10] In 1992, she had a leading role in the British filmBlame it on the Bellboy as Miss Carolyn Wright, a desperateestate agent in Venice who would stop at nothing to clinch a deal.
In 1995, Kensit starred withKristin Scott Thomas andMark Rylance inAngels & Insects, which was directed byPhilip Haas, and was nominated for anAcademy Award for Costume Design. Kensit's last major lead film role was in theNewcastle-basedThe One and Only.
In 2004, Kensit joined the cast of soap operaEmmerdale asSadie King, and also regularly featured in the third series ofChannel 4'sBo' Selecta!, along with its 2005 spin-off seriesA Bear's Tail. Kensit's success as the soap super-bitch in a popular comedy brought her back to the public's attention. In September 2006, Kensit leftEmmerdale, stating that commuting to Yorkshire and the time away from her sons was too stressful.
In September and October 2005, Kensit appeared as a celebrity contestant inAnt & Dec's Gameshow Marathon, progressing through toPlay Your Cards Right, before being eliminated byCarol Vorderman. On 23 June 2006, Kensit guest hostedThe Friday Night Project with bandPlacebo. She appeared as the Grand High Witch of all the World at the Children's Party at the Palace in celebration ofQueen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday in 2006. She also became the voice of online gambling website 32red.com.[11]
In January 2007, Kensit joined theBBC One medical dramaHolby City as ward sisterFaye Morton. On 14 March 2010, it was revealed that she had decided to leave the show.[12] In May 2019, it was announced that Kensit would reprise her role as Faye Morton for an episode, later in the year.
In August 2008, Kensit appeared as a subject in the sixth series ofWho Do You Think You Are?. UntilBruce Forsyth's episode broadcast in July 2010, it became the highest-rated episode for the programme, being seen by 7.10 million viewers. As of 2023, it is still the second-highest rating episode of the programme.[13]
In September 2010, Kensit participated as a contestant on theeighth series ofStrictly Come Dancing.[14] She was partnered with professional dancerRobin Windsor. They were the eighth couple to be eliminated from the competition, finishing in seventh place.
On 15 May 2012, she narrated theChannel 4 documentarySex, Lies and Rinsing Guys. On 7 April 2014, Kensit was a guest panellist onITV chat showLoose Women.[15] On 7 January 2015, Kensit took part as a housemate in thefifteenth series ofCelebrity Big Brother.[16] She was the third celebrity to be evicted from the House, after spending 21 days.
In 2018, Kensit started her Conscious Puberty campaign, which came about after she experienced significant challenges during the menopause. She now uses the campaign across social media channels to converse with other women of every age.[17]
In March 2021, Kensit appeared onBBC Two'sRichard Osman's House of Games.[18] Later that year, she made a guest appearance in an episode ofMcDonald & Dodds and starred in the filmThe Pebble and the Boy.
In November 2022, it was announced that Kensit would join the cast of the BBC soap operaEastEnders asEmma Harding, the biological mother ofLola Pearce (Danielle Harold). Kensit made her first on-screen appearance as Emma on 25 January 2023.[19][20][21] In December 2023, Kensit guest starred in theDeath in Paradise Christmas special. She starred in two films in 2025:Borley Rectory: The Awakening, a horror piece, andA Scottish Christmas Secret, a festive movie in which she playedCaprice Bourret's sister.
Kensit has been married four times.[22] In 1988, she marriedDan Donovan of the bandBig Audio Dynamite but they divorced in 1991. In 1992, she marriedJim Kerr, lead singer ofSimple Minds. During the marriage, she gave birth to a son. Kensit and Kerr divorced in 1996, and in April 1997, she marriedLiam Gallagher from the bandOasis, atMarylebone Town Hall.[23] Kensit and Gallagher had a son, whose godmother is actressElizabeth Hurley, Kensit's co-star in the filmKill Cruise.[24] Kensit and Gallagher divorced in 2000.[22]
She later became involved with the DJJeremy Healy and announced that she was marrying for a fourth time on 29 November 2007.[22] On 31 March 2008, it was reported that the couple had split by mutual consent and had called off their wedding.[25] They reconciled, and married on 18 April 2009,[26] but it was reported in February 2010 that the couple had separated, with their divorce confirmed later in the year.[citation needed]
Kensit is aRoman Catholic, although she identifies as anà la carte member of the faith. Kensit had her children baptised and confirmed in the Catholic tradition.[27] She began attending church after her mother's death.[28]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | For the Love of Ada | Little girl | Uncredited |
| 1974 | The Great Gatsby | Pamela Buchanan | |
| Gold | Little Girl at Christmas Party | Uncredited | |
| 1975 | Alfie Darling | Penny | |
| Hennessy | Angie Hennessy | ||
| 1976 | The Blue Bird | Mytyl | |
| 1979 | Lady Oscar | Oscar as a child | |
| Hanover Street | Sarah Sellinger | Nominated –Young Artist Award for Best Juvenile Actress in a Motion Picture[29] | |
| Quincy's Quest | Jennifer | ||
| 1985 | The Corsican Brothers | Emilie du Cailland | |
| 1986 | Absolute Beginners | Suzette | |
| 1988 | Don Bosco | Lina | |
| A Chorus of Disapproval | Linda Washbrook | ||
| 1989 | Lethal Weapon 2 | Rika van den Haas | |
| 1990 | Chicago Joe and the Showgirl | Joyce Cook | |
| Kill Cruise | Su | ||
| Bullseye! | Sick Lady on Train | Cameo | |
| 1991 | Blue Tornado | Isabella | |
| Timebomb | Dr. Anna Nolmar | ||
| Twenty-One | Katie | Nominated –Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead | |
| Prince of Shadows | Rebeca | ||
| 1992 | Blame It on the Bellboy | Caroline Wright | |
| The Turn of the Screw | Jenny | ||
| 1993 | Bitter Harvest | Jolene | |
| Full Eclipse | Casey Spencer | ||
| 1994 | Fall from Grace | Lady Deirdre Sebright | |
| 1995 | Kleptomania | Julie | |
| Angels & Insects | Eugenia Alabaster Adamson | ||
| Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story | Mia Farrow | ||
| Dream Man | Kris Anderson | ||
| At the Midnight Hour | Elizabeth Guinness | ||
| Tunnel Vision | Kelly Wheatstone | ||
| 1996 | Grace of My Heart | Cheryl Steed | |
| 1998 | Human Bomb | Marcia Weller | |
| 1999 | Speedway Junky | Donna | |
| Janice Beard 45 WPM | Julia | ||
| 2000 | The Pavilion | Clara Huddlestone | |
| Best | Angie Best | ||
| 2001 | Things Behind the Sun | Denise | |
| Bad Karma | Maureen Hatcher | ||
| Loves Music, Loves to Dance | Darcy Scott | ||
| 2002 | The One and Only | Stella | |
| Who's Your Daddy? | Heather McKay | ||
| 2003 | Darkness Falling | Vicki | |
| Shelter Island | Alex Delamere | ||
| 2006 | Played | Cindy | |
| 2007 | The Magic Door | Rachel | |
| 2021 | The Pebble and the Boy | Sonia | |
| 2022 | Renegades | Judy Carver | |
| 2024 | A Gangster's Kiss | Crassus | |
| 2025 | Borley Rectory: The Awakening | Constance Bull | |
| A Scottish Christmas Secret | Sophie Bennett | ||
| TBA | Jackie the Stripper | TBA |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Birds Eye's Frozen Peas | Herself | Television advert[30][31] |
| 1973 | The Brothers | Toddler | Episode: "Negotiations" |
| 1974 | Z-Cars | Joanna Page | Episode: "Joanna" |
| 1975 | Churchill's People | Brewster child | Episode: "America! America!" |
| 1976 | Dickens of London | Georgina Hogarth | 2 episodes |
| 1977–1978 | The Foundation | Emma Prince | 24 episodes |
| 1978 | Armchair Thriller | Tessa | 5 episodes (Quiet as a Nun) |
| 1979 | The Legend of King Arthur | Morgan le Fay | Series 1: Episode 1 |
| Prince Regent | Young Princess Charlotte | 2 episodes | |
| Penmarric | Young Mariana | 2 episodes | |
| 1980 | Hannah | Ruth Corder | All 4 episodes |
| The Mystery of the Disappearing Schoolgirls | Daisy | Television film | |
| 1981 | Great Expectations | Young Estella | 2 episodes |
| 1982 | Disneyland | Pollyanna | Episode: "The Adventures of Pollyanna" |
| Flesh and Blood | Gwen Brassington | Series 2: Episode 5 | |
| Frost in May | Nanda Gray | Episode: "Frost in May" | |
| Schoolgirl Chums | Hilary | Television film | |
| 1983 | The Tragedy of Richard III | Lady Margaret Plantagenet | |
| Luna | Luna | 6 episodes | |
| 1984 | Diana | Young Diana | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe | Eppie | Television film |
| 1989 | Theatre Night | Louka | Episode: "Arms and the Man" |
| 1991 | Does This Mean We're Married? | Deena | Television film |
| 1992 | Screen One | Hetty Sorrel | Episode: "Adam Bede" |
| 1993 | Tales from the Crypt | Bridget | Episode: "As Ye Sow" |
| 1996 | French and Saunders | Patsy Kensit | 3 episodes |
| 1998 | The Last Don II | Josie Cirolia | Both 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Aladdin | Princess | Television film |
| 2001 | Strange Frequency | Kim | Episode: "Cold Turkey" |
| 2001 | Casualty | Charlotte Leith-Jones | Episode: "Happily Ever After" |
| 2002 | Murder in Mind | Angela Stephenson | Episode: "Flashback" |
| 2003–2004 | Bo' Selecta! | Patsy Kensit | 10 episodes |
| 2004 | Monkey Trousers | Various characters | Television film |
| A Bear's Christmas Tail | Helen Hennerson | ||
| 2004–2006 | Emmerdale | Sadie King | Regular role; 311 episodes Nominated –British Soap Award for Soap Bitch of the Year Nominated –National Television Award for Most Popular Newcomer |
| 2005 | A Bear's Tail | Helen Hennerson | All 6 episodes |
| 2006 | Children's Party at the Palace | Various | Television film |
| 2007 | A Bucket o' French & Saunders | Various characters | 2 episodes |
| 2007–2010, 2019 | Holby City | Faye Morton | Regular role; 169 episodes |
| 2012–2013 | Lemon La Vida Loca | Patsy Kensit | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Tina and Bobby | Betty Dean | 2 episodes |
| 2020 | Agatha Raisin | Emma Comfrey | Episode: "The Deadly Dance" |
| 2021 | McDonald & Dodds | Barbara Graham | Episode: "The Man Who Wasn't There" |
| 2023 | EastEnders | Emma Harding | Recurring role[32] |
| Death in Paradise | Bella Stableforth | Episode: "It's Behind You" |
Her mother Margaret, whose parents hailed from county Leitrim
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