Barbara Windsor

In an Amazing coincidence, Patsy Kensit's ancestor that she found on "Who Do You Think You Are?", the Reverend James Mayne, is clearly recorded in the register of St Matthews Church Bethnal Green register on 24 September 1833 as performing the marriage of Golding Deeks and Elizabeth Livermore, two of the ancestors of Barbara Windsor found during her own quest for her ancestry in a different episode of the same series.

Legendary EastEnders actress and Carry On star Barbara Windsor was born Barbara Ann Deeks in Stepney, London, the daughter of Rose (Ellis), a dressmaker, and John Deeks, a costermonger. She was a bright pupil at school and her parents wanted her to go to university, but after her first taste of show business, when her grandmother took her backstage at a theatre, she decided acting was what she wanted to do. Her mother spent all her savings on a place at the Aida Foster Acting School, where Barbara made her stage debut in Aida's 1950's pantomime at the Golders Green Hippodrome. Aida's tutors tried to iron out her Cockney accent but luckily they didn't succeed.

In 1952 she was cast as one of the orphans in the musical 'Love From Judy,' which opened at London's Saville Theatre. With the show's star,, she made her television debut in 'Variety Parade'.

Two years later in 1954 she made her film debut as a school girl extra in 'The Belles of St Trinians and by 1957 she was performing at London's Winston's Club with Amanda Barrie.

The producer Joan Littlewood, who was committed to working class theatre, spotted her at an audition and in 1960 gave her the role which changed her life - Rose in 'Fings Ain't What They Used To Be' at London's Garrick Theatre where it ran for 2 and a 1/2 years, during which she appeared in the TV sit com The Rag Trade (1961).

As a result of the success of 'Fings,' Littlewood cast her in the film Sparrows Can't Sing (1963), which which was seen by producer Peter Rogers who offered her roles in 'Carry on' films, the first of which was Carry on Spying (1964).

In 1964/6 She appeared in Joan's stage version of 'Oh! What a Lovely War' on Broadway and toured America with it. On her return she was cast in the West End production of Lionel Bart's ill fated musical, 'Twang', which closed after a short run allowing her to take a part in 'Come Spy With Me' with Danny La Rue at London's Whitehall Theatre.

During the run she had a complete change in playing one of the Ripper's victims in the film A Study in Terror (1965), then it was back to light hearted roles in such films as Carry on Doctor (1967) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), and in 1968 a British tour with Frankie Howerd in 'The Wind in the Sasafras Tree. In late '69, Ned Sherrin cast her as the music hall legend Marie Lloyd in 'Sing a Rude Song' which opened at the Greenwich Theatre before transferring to the West End's Garrick Theatre. Windsor did become well known in the London theatrical scene, but it was the "Carry On" comedies that made her a star. Although she appeared in only nine films in the long-running series (she left because she thought they were getting too risqué), she made such an impression as the basically goodhearted but dizzy sexpot that many of the series' fans believe she was in many more than she actually was. She almost didn't get the part originally, as she and series regular Kenneth Williams took an instant dislike to each other, but that was soon overcome and they became lifelong friends.

In order to play the character 'Goldie' in the film Carry on Again Doctor (1969) she went on a very strict diet without informing the film's director, Gerald Thomas. Thomas was unhappy on seeing Barbara's new slimline figure and remarked, "Well, that's the joke about Bristols out of the window.".

Had a much publicised affair with "Carry On" co-star Sidney James from 1973 until his death in 1976. The affair was dramatised in the stage play "Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick" and its television adaptation Cor, Blimey! (2000).

Was unable to appear in Carry on Behind (1975) because she was touring New Zealand with her variety showcase Carry On Barbara.

Was meant to play several roles in Carry on Emmannuelle (1978) - the female fantasy figures in the kitchen-table flashback sequences, as well as a nurse at the end of the film. However, she was unable to appear, as she was on holiday at the time.

Suffered a nervous breakdown in 1981 and underwent a hysterectomy in February 1994.

After she left the series, she continued her stage and film work, and became a regular in a long-running British soap opera, EastEnders (1985) as the matriarch of "The Queen Vic" - "Peggy Mitchell," which she played in over 1,500 episodes. She wrote two autobiographies, 'Barbara - the Laughter and Tears of a Cockney Sparrow' and 'All of Me - My Extraordinary Life.

In a 1987 TV-AM interview, she stated her favourite Carry On film is Carry on Henry VIII (1971).

She was offered the role of Queen Isabella in Carry On Columbus (1992) but, despite the big name cast which included several Carry On veterans, she turned it down because she thought the script was rubbish. She chose to do end-of-pier theatre instead. June Whitfield was cast in the role.

Her EastEnders (1985) character Peggy Mitchell's wedding to Frank Butcher (Mike Reid), dated on 1 April 1999, ranked #22 on "The 50 Greatest EastEnders (1985) Weddings of All Time" (2010).

She was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2000 Queen's New Year's Honours List for her services to entertainment.

Was in attendance at the funeral of her former EastEnders (1985) co-star Wendy Richard (9 March 2009).

Was presented her Lifetime Achievement Award at The British Soap Awards 2010 (2010) by her EastEnders (1985) co-stars Steve McFadden and Ross Kemp. McFadden and Kemp's characters Phil and Grant Mitchell were Windsor's character Peggy Mitchell's sons on the show.

In 2012, she became a patron of the Amy Winehouse Foundation, and in November 2014, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of East London.

She was awarded the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2016 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to charity and entertainment.

Was in attendance at her former EastEnders (1985) co-star Lacey Turner's wedding to Matt Kaye in Ibiza on September 2, 2017.

As of 2020 she is the 6th-longest serving actress in the history of EastEnders (1985) (tied with Laila Morse, and behind only June Brown, Pam St. Clement, Letitia Dean, Wendy Richard and a tied Gillian Taylforth and Natalie Cassidy), having played the character Peggy Mitchell for a total of 18 years (initially from 1994 until 2010, briefly in 2013, and then from 2014 to 2016).