Patsy Kensit

1972–1983: Early work and rise to fame

In 1972, at the age of four, Kensit appeared in a television advert for Birds Eye frozen peas.^[8] She also regularly appeared in newspaper adverts modelling children's clothing.^[9] Kensit had her first big-screen role in the film For the Love of Ada. Her next film role was two years later in The Great Gatsby, with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, the latter of whom she portrayed in the 1995 biopic, Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story. Later in 1974, she played a missing child in an episode of Z-Cars, and had a small role in the thriller film Gold alongside Roger Moore and Susannah York. She then starred in Alfie Darling (1975) with Joan Collins, and Hennessy (1975) as the daughter of Rod Steiger's character.

Following this, 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-star Elizabeth Taylor.^[2] Taylor told the press about Kensit that "This little girl is going to be the biggest name in showbusiness".^[10] From 1977 to 1978, Kensit had a regular role in the drama series The Foundation, and in 1978 she appeared in five episodes of the Armchair Thriller serial Quiet as a Nun. She portrayed a young Oscar François de Jarjayes in the 1979 movie Lady Oscar, based on the Rose of Versailles by Riyoko Ikeda. In 1979, Kensit starred in the war-romance film Hanover Street, opposite Harrison Ford and Christopher Plummer. She was nominated for Young Artist Award for Best Juvenile Actress in a Motion Picture at the Young Artist Awards for her role in the film.^[11]

By the early 1980s, Kensit had become a regular face on screen. She appeared in a handful of television period dramas including The Legend of King Arthur, Prince Regent and Penmarric, and in 1981, she starred as Estella in the BBC adaptation of Great Expectations. She then played the role of Lady Margaret Plantagenet in the 1982 BBC Television Shakespeare production of Richard III. In the same year, she starred as the title character in the The Magical World of Disney television movie The Adventures of Pollyanna, and appeared in the music video for "Nobody's Fool" by Haircut One Hundred. In 1983, she starred as the leading character in the sci-fi TV series Luna.

1983–1989: Dual career, Eighth Wonder and Absolute Beginners

By this time, Kensit had ventured into the Soho club scene with her older brother Jamie and socialised with stars such as George Michael, Sade and Boy George; the thriving music scene and the exposure to the New Romantic era piqued Kensit's interest in music, and in 1983 she became a backing singer in Jamie's band Spice, which included Steve Grantley and Geoff Beauchamp.^[8] The band was later renamed Eighth Wonder and Kensit became the lead vocalist.^[2] Eighth Wonder began with moderate success and performed at various wine bars, pubs and university venues, and Kensit began to also write songs for the band.^[12] Eighth Wonder's first single, "Stay with Me", was released in October 1985. Due to Kensit's involvement in the group, they achieved much publicity.^[13][14]

Kensit pursued a dual career as a singer and an actress. In 1984, she played the title role in the drama series Diana^[15] and starred in the children's television play The Prattling Princess. In 1985, she starred in the film The Corsican Brothers. At this time she played the role of Eppie in an adaptation of Silas Marner, with Ben Kingsley.^[6]

In 1986, she won the lead female role in the film version of Absolute Beginners, based on the book by Colin MacInnes, after Stephen Woolley, co-owner of Palace Films, and director Julien Temple watched her perform with Eighth Wonder at the Queen Elizabeth College in Kensington.^[2] The group also contributed a song to the film; although the it did not perform particularly well, the film and the promotion surrounding it brought both Kensit and the group much media attention.^[17][18] In November 1987, she sang a duet with the Italian singer and songwriter Eros Ramazzotti, entitled La luce buona delle stelle ("The Good Light of the Stars").

In 1988, Kensit and Eighth Wonder had two Top 40 singles: "I'm Not Scared", written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe and produced by the Pet Shop Boys and Phil Harding (for PWL), which reached Number 7 in the British charts. "Cross My Heart" reached Number 13. That year also saw Kensit have a role in the Italian film Don Bosco.

Eighth Wonder's final charted song in the UK was the single "Baby Baby", whilst their final hit was "Use Me" which charted in Japan in 1989.

1989–2004: Lethal Weapon 2 and continued success

Although the Eighth Wonder's success had waned by 1989, the group disbanded and Kensit focused solely on her acting career, appearing in the 1989 film Lethal Weapon 2 as Rika van den Haas, a South African consulate secretary with whom detective Martin Riggs, played by Mel Gibson, falls in love. Later that year, Kensit starred in the film A Chorus of Disapproval directed by Michael Winner, and in the television film Arms and the Man with Helena Bonham Carter.

In 1991, she had a leading role in the romantic comedy, Does This Mean We're Married?^[19] during which she sings the song "Rambo Doll".^[19]

Kensit appeared in the 1991 film Twenty-One, for which she received a nomination for Independent 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".^[20] In 1992, she had a leading role in the British film Blame it on the Bellboy as Miss Carolyn Wright, a desperate estate agent in Venice who would stop at nothing to clinch a deal.

In 1995, Kensit starred with Kristin Scott Thomas and Mark Rylance in Angels & Insects, which was directed by Philip Haas, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Costume Design. In 2000, she portrayed Angie Best in Best, a biopic of the footballer George Best. In 2002, Kensit starred in the Newcastle-based The One and Only.

2004–2010: Return to television

In 2004, Kensit joined the cast of soap opera Emmerdale as Sadie King, and also regularly featured in the third series of Channel 4's Bo' Selecta!, along with its 2005 spin-off series A 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 left Emmerdale, 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 in Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon, progressing through to Play Your Cards Right, before being eliminated by Carol Vorderman. On 23 June 2006, Kensit guest hosted The Friday Night Project with band Placebo. She appeared as the Grand High Witch of all the World at the Children's Party at the Palace in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday in 2006. She also became the voice of online gambling website 32red.com.^[21]

In January 2007, Kensit joined the BBC One medical drama Holby City as ward sister Faye Morton. On 14 March 2010, it was revealed that she had decided to leave the show.^[22] 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 of Who Do You Think You Are?. Until Bruce 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.^[23]

2010–present: Recent projects

In September 2010, Kensit participated as a contestant on the eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing.^[24] She was partnered with professional dancer Robin Windsor. They were the eighth couple to be eliminated from the competition, finishing in seventh place.

On 15 May 2012, she narrated the Channel 4 documentary Sex, Lies and Rinsing Guys. In October 2013, Kensit released her autobiography, titled Absolute Beginner, published through Sidgwick & Jackson publishers.^[25] On 7 April 2014, Kensit was a guest panellist on ITV chat show Loose Women.^[26] On 7 January 2015, Kensit took part as a housemate in the fifteenth series of Celebrity Big Brother.^[27] 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.^[28]

In March 2021, Kensit appeared on BBC Two's Richard Osman's House of Games.^[29] Later that year, she made a guest appearance in an episode of McDonald & Dodds and starred in the film The Pebble and the Boy. In June 2022, Kensit took part in the Platinum Jubilee Pageant as part of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations; Kensit, alongside Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and others represented the decade of the 1990s.^[30] In October 2022, Kensit starred in the action thriller film Renegades alongside Lee Majors, and Danny Trejo.^[31]

In November 2022, it was announced that Kensit would join the cast of the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Emma Harding, the biological mother of Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold). Kensit made her first on-screen appearance as Emma on 25 January 2023.^[32][33][34] In December 2023, Kensit guest starred in the Death in Paradise Christmas special.^[35] She starred in two films in 2025: Borley Rectory: The Awakening, a horror piece, and A Scottish Christmas Secret, a festive movie in which she played Caprice Bourret's sister.

Film

Television

Stage

Radio

Music videos