Let’s look at the actresses’ lives outside of the camera since the soap star has played Kathy Beale for decades.
One of Walford’s leading ladies is Kathy Beale. After putting up with her sons Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) for all these years, the café and bar owner who made an appearance on the first EastEnders episode in February 1985 deserves a medal.
Early on in the BBC One soap opera, Kathy was wed to Peter Beale, Pauline Fowler’s twin who was well-known for peddling produce down the market. Gavin Sullivan (Paul Nicholas), Kathy’s new husband, and they moved to South Africa in 2000. Years later, Ian heard a fabricated report that the couple had perished in a car accident.
Since her sensational return to Walford in 2015, Kathy has been a fan favorite. Let’s take a look at the actress who plays Kathy on the BBC One soap opera, Gillian Taylforth, in her personal life.
Real Age
Due to her blonde hair and age-defying appearance, Kathy Beale’s age is frequently brought up by EastEnders viewers. In honor of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away last week, the soap opera paid tribute to her on Monday, September 12. Kathy revealed she was 73 years old as she talked about the Queen’s coronation during an emotional exchange with Denise Fox and Linda Carter.
However, Gillian was actually born on August 14, 1955, making her 67 years of age.
Famous Sister
Kim Taylforth, a well-known actress who has played a number of roles in competing British soap operas like Hollyoaks, The Bill, and Family Affairs, suggests that acting runs in the family.
She also starred in Operation Good Guys and London’s Burning and went by the name Marilyn Fenner on ITV’s Bad Girls. Outside of television, Kim has appeared in several pantomimes across the UK as either the Wicked Queen or the Good Fairy.
Family Life
On EastEnders, Kathy’s character has been connected to a number of men, most notably marrying Phil Mitchell. However, Gillian was only ever connected to one cast member in real life, Nick Berry, who played Simon Wicks, also known as “Wicksy.”
Between 1985 and 1988, the couple—who appeared as stepmother and stepson—dated for three years. But in the late 1980s, Gillian moved on and started dating Geoff Knights. They now have two children together, Harrison and Jessica.
Geoff tragically passed away from stomach cancer in 2013 at the age of 58.
What other TV shows has Gillian Taylforth been in?
Gillian continued to excel in many other roles during her 15-year hiatus from EastEnders, including Jackie Pascoe on Footballers Wives and Sergeant Nikki Wright on ITV’s The Bill. Gillian played roles in other British soap operas that viewers might have forgotten about, despite the fact that her roles on Footballers Wives and The Bill were memorable.
She appeared as MP Justine Walker in the 2009 episode of Casualty titled “Parent Trap,” in which the mother of a fractured family tries to bring her family back together. Prior to her historic EastEnders comeback in 2015, the British actress starred as Sandy Roscoe for two years in Hollyoaks.
The television personality, who made an appearance on Strictly Come Dancing in 2008, was the fourth housemate to leave Celebrity Big Brother in 2013.
