Date of Birth

6 August 1937, Shoreditch, London, England, UK

Birth Name

Barbara-Ann Deeks

Barbara Windsor got a glimpse of theatrical life at an early age when her grandmother took her backstage at a theatre and she decided that was what she wanted to do. She attended several professional schools before making her stage debut at age 12. At 15 she got a job in the chorus line of a London musical and stayed with the show for the next two years, although she took some minor roles in films during that time. She did become well known in the London theatrical scene, but it was the series of "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.

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".

She was awarded an M.B.E. (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2000 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to Entertainment.

Nominated for a 1965 Featured Actress in a Musical Tony Award for her performance in "Oh, What A Lovely War!" directed by her mentor, Joan Littlewood.

Measurements: 38-23-33 (at age 18), 36-23-34 (in 1973), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine).

First husband, Ronnie Knight, fled to Spain after bank robbery charges were filed against him.

A debilitating case of the Epstein-Barr virus forced a two-year long absence from "EastEnders" from 2003 to 2005.

In her autobiography "All of Me," Windsor candidly talks about her affair with her "Carry On" co-star Sid James. She was also romantically linked to the gangster Reggie Kray in the 1960s as well as "Bee Gee" Maurice Gibb. She also discusses her five abortions, the first three taking place before the age of 21, and the last occurring when she was 42; her cosmetic surgeries; and numerous nervous breakdowns and hospitalizations. She also freely admits her penchant for younger men (present husband Scott is 26 years younger than she).

The only child of John Deeks, a costermonger (fruit/vegetable street seller), and wife Rose, a dressmaker, who eventually divorced. She was trained in dance at age 6 and also took elocution lessons while young.

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

She married her third husband, Scott Mitchell, at the Dorchester Hotel in London, England.

Is a close friend of "EastEnders" (1985) co-star Patsy Palmer, referring to her as "the daughter she never had".

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

Was a very close friend of Carry On co-star Kenneth Williams.

First Carry On was Carry On Spying (1964).

Was in attendance at the wedding of her "EastEnders" (1985) co-star Samantha Womack to Mark Womack (17 May 2009).

Her paternal great-grandmother Mary Ann Collins fled with her family from Cork in Ireland to the East End of London during the Irish potato famine and whilst in London she took up work as a match-stick girl.

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.".

Is best friends with Anna Karen.

As a child her favourite actress was Betty Grable.

Was evacuated to Blackpool during WWII, where she lived for a year before returning home to London.

Her first job after leaving school at the age of sixteen was as a customer service assistant in a shoe shop.

Made her West End debut in the musical "Love From Judy" in September 1952 at the age of fifteen.

Learned her craft at Aida Foster Theatre School in Golders Green, resulting in her stage debut in a pantomime in December 1950 at the age of thirteen.

Underwent a hysterectomy in February 1994.

Had a much publicised affair with Carry On co-star Sid 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) (TV)'.

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