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Jessie Wallace

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Jessie Wallace
Born
Karen Jane Wallace

(1971-09-25) 25 September 1971 (age 53)
Enfield, North London, England
OccupationActress
Years active1999–present

Jessie Wallace (born Karen Jane Wallace on 25 September 1971 in Enfield) is an English actress best known for her portrayal as Kat Moon in the BBC soap opera Eastenders.

Early life

Wallace was born at 204 Durants Road, Enfield, North London [1] to James, a Telecom Engineer, and Annette, a secretary.[2] Her parents divorced when she was aged three and, unusually, she, and sister Joanne, were raised by their father (however, she did see her mother at weekends).[2] She adopted her stage name after her late grandmother.[3]

Career

After schooling, Wallace trained as a make-up artist at the College of North East London in Tottenham and worked at the Royal Shakespeare Company for two years. She met and became friends with actor Iain Glenn, who helped her apply for London drama college The Poor School, from where she graduated in 1999. While undertaking auditions - including for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard, she worked as a real life barmaid at her local pub, The Royal Oak in Loughton, Essex.[4]

Her first television appearance was in an episode of the ITV police drama series The Bill in 1999. Wallace is best known for playing the role of Kat Slater in BBC One soap opera EastEnders between 2000 and 2005.[5] In Summer 2008, Wallace said she hadn't ruled out a return to EastEnders. Recently an article in The Sun newspaper claimed she is set to return to the soap in the near future. In February 2010 it was announced that Shane Richie was returning as Alfie Moon, leading to large amounts of speculation as to whether Jessie would also be returning. On the 9th February 2010 the BBC confirmed that Jessie Wallace would be returning to EastEnders, reprising her role as Kat Slater. She and Alfie will be back on screens in Autumn 2010.[6]

Since leaving EastEnders in November 2005, Wallace has made a guest appearance, as Kat Slater, in the 2005 French & Saunders Christmas special. On 17 February 2006, Wallace was the "guest host" of an edition of the Channel 4 programme The Friday Night Project. She has recently been seen in the one-off BBC1 television dramas A Class Apart opposite Nathaniel Parker, The Dinner Party with Lee Evans and Alison Steadman. After visiting Hat Trick Productions with her agent, and singing an impromptu version of Marie Lloyd's song The Boy I Love Is Up in the Gallery, she was offered the lead role in Miss Marie Lloyd - Queen of The Music Hall for BBC Four.[7]

Wallace made her West End theatre debut, replacing Denise van Outen in the role of "Maureen" in Rent remixed at the Duke of York's Theatre from 27 December 2007 until 2 February 2008.[8] Wallace played Amy Kriel in the third series of ITV1's Wild at Heart, and starred in a run of the play Haunted at the Arts Theatre from 24 May.[9][10]

Wallace competed with partner Darren Bennett in the sixth series of Strictly Come Dancing which began on 20 September 2008. She was eliminated in week 4 on 12 October 2008.[11]

Jessie toured the UK in the 25th Anniversary production of Stepping Out by Richard Harris, playing the role of Sylvia.

It was announced that Jessie will make her return to EastEnders towards the end of 2010 along with Shane Richie.

Jessie appeared as British sex symbol of the 1960s and 70s Pat Phoenix, in The Road to Coronation Street, a one-off documentary exploring the origins and conception of Coronation Street, to mark the show's 50th anniversary in December 2010 around the same time she returned to rival soap Eastenders .

Jessie is an honorary patron of the theatre charity The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America.

Personal life

After coming to fame in EastEnders, her personal life became a focus of the tabloid newspapers. She entered the soap cast in the later stages of a three year relationship with Majorca based ex-criminal Paul Whitworth. After being warned by BBC executives, she spilt with Whitworth and had a holiday romance with 25 year old American Andy Burton, who immediately sold his story.[4]

After being suspended by the BBC from EastEnders for excess drinking, partying and adverse publicity; she returned to the soap but was then stopped by police and arrested for driving one and half times over the limit. The BBC offered her counselling, but while attending County Court for sentencing, she was attended by policeman Dave Morgan in case she was accosted by fans. The couple started dating, and then moved in together after Wallace confirmed she was pregnant. Wallace gave birth to daughter Tallulah Lilac on 2 November 2004, but the couple split up shortly afterwards, with Wallace's lawyers placing a gagging order on Morgan.[12]

In a later tabloid story in late 2007 whilst Jessie was filming for Wild at Heart in Johannesburg with her cousin Jonathan and daughter Tallulah, her best friend Stefan suggested she still regularly took ketamine,[13] Wallace admitted at one point taking drugs but denied taking them since the birth of her daughter.[14]

In 2004, Wallace was referred to as a "vile dog" by EastEnders colleague Leslie Grantham, during a sordid webcam chat he had with a number of women in online chat rooms, which involved him stripping and masturbating on the camera.[15]

She is good friends with co-stars Laila Morse.[16] and Rita Simons.

Wallace presently lives in a £1 million pound barn conversion in Old Harlow, Essex with her daughter Tallulah. She lives their with her husband Petrol Morgan who is a chef.

Awards

Wins

  • British Soap Awards:
    • Best Newcomer - 2001
    • Sexiest Female - 2002
    • Sexiest Female - 2003
    • Sexiest Female - 2004
  • National Television Awards:
    • Most Popular Newcomer - 2001
    • Most Popular Actress - 2003
  • TV Quick and Choice Awards
    • Best Soap Newcomer - 2001
    • Best Soap Actress - 2003
  • Inside Soap Awards
    • Best Newcomer - 2001
    • Prettiest Female - 2002
    • Prettiest Female and Best Family (The Moons) - 2003
    • Best Couple and Best Family (The Moons) - 2004
  • Smash Hits T4 Pollwinners' Party
    • Best Soap Actor or Actress - 2005

Nominations

  • British Soap Awards 2002 - Best Dramatic performance, Hero of the year and Best Actress
  • British Soap Awards 2003 - Best Actress
  • British Soap Awards 2004 - Best on Screen Partnership (shared with Shane Ritchie) and Best Actress
  • British Soap Awards 2005 - Sexiest Female and Best Actress
  • British Soap Awards 2006 - Best Exit and Best Actress
  • National Television Awards 2002 - Most Popular Actress
  • National Television Awards 2004 - Most Popular Actress
  • National Television Awards 2005 - Most Popular Actress

References

  1. ^ Jessie Wallace interview, BBC One Show - 9 May 2008
  2. ^ a b http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Kat-Wallace-Britains-Exciting/dp/1844542238#reader_1844542238
  3. ^ Dempster, Sarah (9 May 2007). "Little Miss Saucy". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  4. ^ a b "The Jessie Wallace Story". Daily Mirror. 11 November 2005. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
  5. ^ "National Television Awards". thecustard.tv. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
  6. ^ http://www.rte.ie/arts/2010/0209/eastenders.html
  7. ^ "Jessie Wallace: The former Eastenders star becomes queen of the music hall". London: The Independent. 8 May 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
  8. ^ "Wallace takes Rent from Van Outen". Official London Theatre Guide. 12 December 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-12-16. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
  9. ^ "Jessie Wallace is 'Wild At Heart'". digitalspy.co.uk. 13 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
  10. ^ "Haunted - The play". hauntedtheplay.com. Only Hope Productions Ltd. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
  11. ^ Simpson, Richard (13 October 2008). "Tearful Jessie Wallace gets booted off Strictly as judges say she'd be better off on a football pitch". Daily Mail. London.
  12. ^ "Jessie Wallace:I'm happy to be a single Mum now". Sunday Mirror. 15 May 2005. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  13. ^ "EastEnders star accused of excessive drinking and drug use". Now Magazine. 25 September 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
  14. ^ "Jessie Wallace admits taking drugs". Sky News Entertainment. 10 April 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
  15. ^ Lane, Harriet (30 May 2004). "It's not very nice to see yourself called a vile dog". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  16. ^ People.co.uk - JESSIE'S ANGUISH

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