Jessie Wallace
Wallace in 2023
Born
Karen Jane Wallace

(1971-09-25) 25 September 1971 (age 52)
Enfield, North London, England
OccupationActress
Years active1999–present
Children1

Karen Jane Wallace (born 25 September 1971), known professionally as Jessie Wallace, is an English actress. She made her acting debut in the television police series The Bill and rose to prominence for her role as Kat Slater on the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2000–2005, 2010–2016, 2018–present). For her portrayal of Kat, she has won seventeen awards including Most Popular Newcomer at the National Television Awards and the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer in 2001, Most Popular Actress at the National Television Awards in 2003 and the British Soap Award for Best Actress in 2011. She also portrayed the role of Pat Phoenix in the BBC Four television film The Road to Coronation Street, for which she was nominated for the 2011 BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Early life

Karen Jane Wallace was born on 25 September 1971 in the London Borough of Enfield to James Wallace, a telecommunications engineer, and his wife Annette (née Leach), a secretary.[1][2][3] Wallace is of Irish ancestry, by way of Cork and Dublin.[4] Her parents divorced when she was aged three and she and her sister were raised by their father, however she would see her mother at weekends.[3] She adopted her stage name after her late grandmother.[5]

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.[5] She met and became friends with actor Iain Glen, who helped her apply for London drama college The Poor School, from which she graduated in 1999.[5] While undertaking auditions – including for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard, she worked as a barmaid at her local pub, The Royal Oak in Loughton, Essex.[6] Her first television appearance was in an episode of the ITV police drama series The Bill in 1999 as P.C. Karen Lace.[7]

EastEnders

Wallace is known for playing the role of Kat Slater in BBC One soap opera EastEnders.[8] She initially portrayed the role between September 2000 and December 2005.[9] In 2007, Wallace said she hadn't ruled out a return to EastEnders.[10] In February 2010, it was announced that Shane Richie was returning to play Alfie Moon, leading to large amounts of speculation as to whether Wallace would also be returning. On 9 February 2010, the BBC confirmed that Jessie would be returning to EastEnders, reprising her role as Kat Slater. Kat and Alfie's return scenes aired in September 2010.[11][12]

In April 2015, the BBC announced that Wallace and Richie would depart from the show temporarily to appear in a six-part BBC One drama series, Kat & Alfie: Redwater.[13] In the series, Kat and Alfie visited Ireland in the "search for answers to some very big questions". Speaking about the show, Wallace commented: "I have always loved working on EastEnders so when I heard of this new drama to take Kat and Alfie outside of Walford, I couldn’t believe our luck. To be exploring the next chapter for Kat as well as working alongside my best mate, Shane, is a dream come true and a huge compliment."[14] However, Wallace and Richie later revealed on This Morning in January 2016 that Kat and Alfie would not be returning to EastEnders after the six-part drama, and the characters departed at the end of that month.[15][16] In December 2017, it was announced that Wallace would reprise the role of Kat in EastEnders the following year, and she returned to the show permanently in March 2018.[17][18]

Other work

During her break from EastEnders, Wallace made television guest appearances, including once as Kat Slater, in the 2005 French & Saunders Christmas special.[19] In February 2006, Wallace was the guest host of an edition of the Channel 4 programme The Friday Night Project.[1] In 2007, she appeared in the one-off BBC One television dramas A Class Apart opposite Nathaniel Parker, and The Dinner Party with Lee Evans and Alison Steadman.[20][21] 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.[22]

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.[23] Wallace played Amy Kriel in the third series of ITV's Wild at Heart and starred in a run of the play Haunted at the Arts Theatre from 24 May.[24][25]

Wallace competed with partner Darren Bennett in the sixth series of Strictly Come Dancing which began on 20 September 2008.[26] They were the fourth couple to be eliminated from the competition in week 4.[27]

Wallace toured the UK in the 25th Anniversary production of Stepping Out by Richard Harris, playing the role of Sylvia.[28] Wallace appeared as Pat Phoenix in The Road to Coronation Street, a one-off drama exploring the origins and conception of Coronation Street, to mark the show's 50th anniversary in December 2010.[29]

In 2014, Wallace reprised her role as Marie Lloyd in the music video for Tim Arnold's single "The Piccadilly Trot".[30] She later appeared on Arnold's album The Soho Hobo on a duet that he wrote called "Soho Sunset".[31]

In May 2015, Wallace performed a duet at Soho Theatre with singer-songwriter Tim Arnold to mark the release of his album The Soho Hobo. The song marks her first recording on a pop album and was written especially for her by Arnold.[32][33] Wallace was also cast as the Fairy Godmother in the White Rock Theatre production of Cinderella.[34] In July 2015 it was announced that Wallace would appear alongside Richie in a stage adaptation of The Perfect Murder by Peter James at the Theatre Royal in February 2016.[35]

Wallace is a patron of the theatre charity The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America.[36]

Personal life

When she began appearing in EastEnders, Wallace's personal life became the focus of many tabloid newspapers.[37] 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 split with Whitworth, and had a holiday romance with 25-year-old American, Andy Burton, who immediately sold his story.[6]

In November 2003, Wallace was suspended from EastEnders by the BBC for excess drinking, partying and adverse publicity; she returned to the soap, but was then stopped by police and arrested for drink driving, being one and half times over the limit.[38] The BBC offered her counselling and while attending county court for sentencing, she was accompanied by a 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 gag order on Morgan.[39]

In a tabloid story that surfaced in September 2007, whilst Wallace was filming Wild at Heart in Johannesburg with her cousin Jonathan and daughter Tallulah, her best friend, Stefan, suggested she still regularly took ketamine.[40] Wallace admitted, at one point, taking drugs, but denied taking them since the birth of her daughter.[41]

In January 2020, Wallace was suspended from EastEnders again by the BBC with a two-month suspension incurring due to an "incident while filming".[42]

In March 2022, Wallace became a grandmother for the first time, after her daughter gave birth to a son.[43]

In June 2022, Wallace was arrested after she assaulted a police officer outside a nightclub in Bury St Edmunds.[44] She was released without charge but received a conditional caution.[45][46] In response, Wallace was issued a warning for "unacceptable behaviour" by EastEnders bosses.[47]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1999 The Bill P.C. Karen Lace Episode: "A Night to Forget" [7]
2000–2005,
2010–2016,
2018–present 		EastEnders Kat Slater Regular role [8]
2007 A Class Apart Candy Jerome Television film [20]
Miss Marie Lloyd Marie Lloyd [48]
The Dinner Party Jackie [21]
2008 Wild at Heart Amy Kriel Main role (season 3) [24]
Strictly Come Dancing Herself Main role (season 6) [26]
2010 The Road to Coronation Street Pat Phoenix Television film [49]
2017 Kat & Alfie: Redwater Kat Slater Main role [50]
2020 EastEnders: Secrets from the Square Herself Episode: "Kat and Stacey" [51]

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2017 Amoc Lecturer [52]

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Award Work Result Ref.
2001 British Soap Awards Sexiest Female EastEnders Nominated
Best Newcomer Won [53]
National Television Awards Most Popular Newcomer Won [54]
Inside Soap Awards Best Newcomer Won [55]
TV Quick and TV Choice Awards Won [56]
2002 British Soap Awards Best Actress Nominated [57]
Best Dramatic Performance Nominated
Hero of the Year Nominated
Sexiest Female Won [58]
Inside Soap Awards Best Actress Nominated
Sexiest Female Won [59]
TV Quick and TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress Nominated
National Television Awards Most Popular Actress Nominated
2003 British Soap Awards Best Actress Nominated [60]
Sexiest Female Won
TV Quick and TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress Won [61]
National Television Awards Most Popular Actress Won [62]
Inside Soap Awards Best Actress Nominated
2004 British Soap Awards Best Actress Nominated [63]
Sexiest Female Won
Best On-Screen Partnership (with Shane Richie) Nominated
National Television Awards Most Popular Actress Nominated [64][65]
Inside Soap Awards Best Actress Nominated
Best Couple (with Shane Richie) Won [66]
Sexiest Female Nominated
TV Quick and TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress Nominated
2005 British Soap Awards Best Actress Nominated [67]
Sexiest Female Nominated
National Television Awards Most Popular Actress Nominated [68]
2006 British Soap Awards Best Actress Nominated [69]
Best Exit (with Shane Richie) Nominated
2011 Best Actress Won [70]
Best On-Screen Partnership (with Shane Richie) Won
All About Soap Bubble Awards Best Actress Won [71]
TRIC Awards TV Soap Personality Won [72]
TV Quick and TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress Won [73]
Inside Soap Awards Best Actress Won [74]
BAFTA Awards Best Supporting Actress The Road to Coronation Street Nominated [75]
TV Times Awards Favourite Soap Star EastEnders Nominated [76]
2012 National Television Awards Outstanding Serial Drama Performance Nominated [77]
2013 British Soap Awards Best Actress Nominated [78]

References

  1. ^ a b "Ten Things About... Jessie Wallace". Digital Spy. 6 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  2. ^ Jessie Wallace interview, BBC One Show – 9 May 2008
  3. ^ a b Herbert, Emily (February 2006). Wild Kat: The True Story of Jessie Wallace, Britain's Most Exciting Star: Emily Herbert: 9781844542239: Amazon.com: Books. John Blake Publishing, Limited. ISBN 978-1844542239.
  4. ^ "EastEnders star recalls childhood visit to Ireland". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 15 January 2016. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018. ((cite journal)): Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ^ a b c Dempster, Sarah (9 May 2007). "Little Miss Saucy". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  6. ^ a b "The Jessie Wallace Story". Daily Mirror. 11 November 2005. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
  7. ^ a b "Jessie Wallace at TV Guide". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Kat Slater – BBC EastEnders". BBC. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  9. ^ "National Television Awards". thecustard.tv. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
  10. ^ "Jessie Wallace hints at 'Enders return". Digital Spy. 15 March 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Eastenders celebrates 25 years". RTÉ News. 9 February 2010. Archived from the original on 12 February 2010.
  12. ^ "Kat Slater 'returning to Enders pregnant'". Digital Spy. 18 August 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Kat and Alfie: Redwater". BBC Media Centre. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  14. ^ "EastEnders' Kat and Alfie to get their own show". BBC Media Centre. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  15. ^ Lindsay, Duncan (20 January 2016). "EastEnders spoilers: Alfie and Kat Moon will not be returning after their spin-off". Metro. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  16. ^ "BBC confirms EastEnders spinoff Kat and Alfie: Redwater will NOT be getting another series". Digital Spy. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  17. ^ Harp, Justin (20 December 2017). "EastEnders is officially bringing back Kat Slater". Digital Spy.
  18. ^ "EastEnders return for Kat Moon and her showdown with Big Mo has viewers really excited". Digital Spy. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  19. ^ "2005 Specials - French And Saunders Celebrity Christmas Special". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  20. ^ a b "BBC1's A Class Apart tops ratings". The Guardian. 26 March 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  21. ^ a b "BBC – Dinner Party". BBC. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Jessie Wallace: The former Eastenders star becomes queen of the music hall". The Independent. London. 8 May 2007. Archived from the original on 24 June 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
  23. ^ "Wallace takes Rent from Van Outen". Official London Theatre Guide. 12 December 2007. Archived from the original on 16 December 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
  24. ^ a b "Jessie Wallace is 'Wild at Heart'". Digital Spy. 13 August 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2007.
  25. ^ "Haunted – The play". hauntedtheplay.com. Only Hope Productions Ltd. n.d. Archived from the original on 18 September 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  26. ^ a b "Jessie Wallace – BBC Strictly". BBC. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  27. ^ "Jessie Wallace gets 'Strictly' boot". Digital Spy. 12 October 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  28. ^ "Wallace, Capron & Ashe Stepping Out for 25 Years". Terri Paddock. Archived from the original on 4 August 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  29. ^ "EastEnders actress Jessie Wallace nominated for Coronation Street Bafta". Amy Duncan. 26 April 2011. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  30. ^ "The Soho Hobo takes over Piccadilly Circus for revival of Marie Lloyd". London Evening Standard. 17 April 2014.
  31. ^ "EastEnder Jessie Wallace sings about Soho". The Independent. 24 July 2015. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022.
  32. ^ "Marc Almond and Jessie Wallace to perform special Soho show with Tim Arnold". Classic pop Magazine. 7 May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  33. ^ "jessie-wallaces-yoko-ono-eastenders". Daily Mirror. 6 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  34. ^ "HQ Theatres". whiterocktheatre.org.uk.
  35. ^ Barr, Gordon (24 July 2015). "EastEnders stars Shane Richie and Jessie Wallace to star together on stage at Newcastle Theatre Royal". Evening Chronicle. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  36. ^ "About Us". The Music Hall Guild. Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  37. ^ "EastEnders star Jessie Wallace wins damages from Reveal magazine". The Guardian. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  38. ^ "Soap star banned for drink-driving". 27 November 2003.
  39. ^ "Jessie Wallace:I'm happy to be a single Mum now". Sunday Mirror. 15 May 2005. Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2008.
  40. ^ "EastEnders star accused of excessive drinking and drug use". Now Magazine. 25 September 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2008.[permanent dead link]
  41. ^ "Jessie Wallace admits taking drugs". Sky News Entertainment. 10 April 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2008.[dead link]
  42. ^ "EastEnders star Jessie Wallace 'suspended after incident' during filming of the soap". Digital Spy. 25 January 2020.
  43. ^ "EastEnders star Jessie Wallace shares that she has welcomed grandson". Digital Spy. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  44. ^ Patterson, Stephen (20 June 2022). "EastEnders star Jessie Wallace 'arrested after attacking cop outside nightclub'". Metro. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  45. ^ "EastEnders star Jessie Wallace arrested on suspicion of assaulting police officer and being drunk and disorderly outside Suffolk nightclub". Sky News. 20 June 2022. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  46. ^ Amos, Johnny (20 June 2022). "EastEnders star Jessie Wallace arrested outside Suffolk nightclub". Ipswich Star. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  47. ^ Vassell, Nicole (21 June 2022). "Jessie Wallace: EastEnders bosses issue warning to actor for 'unacceptable' behaviour". The Independent. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  48. ^ "BBC Four Winter/Spring 2007". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  49. ^ "Coronation Street fans loved the "amazing" The Road to Coronation Street". Digital Spy. 28 June 2020. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  50. ^ "Kat and Alfie: Redwater episode one review – Atmospheric, gripping and with a truly shocking twist". Digital Spy. 18 May 2017. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  51. ^ "EastEnders: Secrets from the Square – BBC – Kat and Stacey". BBC. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  52. ^ "Amoc (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  53. ^ "EastEnders triumph at UK soap awards". BBC News. 26 May 2001. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  54. ^ "Royle night at TV awards". BBC News. 23 October 2001. Archived from the original on 14 June 2004. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  55. ^ "EastEnders triumph at soap awards". BBC News. 2 October 2001. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  56. ^ "EastEnders triumph at TV awards". BBC News. 11 September 2001. Retrieved 28 March 2009.
  57. ^ "British Soap Awards 2002: Nominations". Digital Spy. 16 May 2002. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  58. ^ "EastEnders sweeps soap awards". BBC News. 19 May 2002. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  59. ^ "Awards success for EastEnders". BBC News. 30 September 2002. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  60. ^ "British Soap Awards 2003". British Soap Awards. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  61. ^ "EastEnders cleans up at TV Quick Awards". CBBC Newsround. 9 September 2003. Retrieved 28 March 2009.
  62. ^ "National Television Awards 2003". Evening Standard. 5 April 2012. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  63. ^ "British Soap Awards 2004". British Soap Awards. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  64. ^ "Forsyth nominated for TV awards". BBC News. 12 October 2004. Retrieved 28 March 2009.
  65. ^ Green, Kris (26 October 2004). "Aston Scoops Best Newcomer Award". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  66. ^ "EastEnders takes narrow soap win". BBC News. 28 September 2004. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  67. ^ "British Soap Awards 2005". British Soap Awards. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  68. ^ "National TV Awards nominations". The Guardian. 11 October 2005. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  69. ^ "British Soap Awards: The Winners". Sky Showbiz. Sky TV. 22 May 2006. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
  70. ^ "British Soap Awards 2011". British Soap Awards. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  71. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (27 March 2011). "In Full: All About Soap Bubble winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  72. ^ "Jessie wins a TRIC". BBC News. 9 March 2011. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  73. ^ "TV Choice Awards 2011: Jessie Wallace wins Best Soap Actress - but stays away after love split". Daily Mirror. 13 September 2011. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  74. ^ "'EastEnders' wins big at Inside Soap Awards 2011". Digital Spy. 26 September 2011. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  75. ^ "2011 Television Awards Nominations". BAFTA. 25 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  76. ^ "Favourite Soap Star Nominees". What's on TV. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  77. ^ "National TV Awards 2012: The winners". BBC News. 25 January 2012. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  78. ^ "British Soap Awards 2013: the winners in full". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2020.

External links

Awards for Jessie Wallace
Authority control databases
Categories