Barbara Windsor

Dame
Barbara Windsor
DBE
Windsor in 2010
Born Barbara Ann Deeks
(1937-08-06) 6 August 1937
Shoreditch, London, England
Nationality English
Occupation Actress
Years active 1954–2017[1]
Net worth Steady £9 million (2018)[2]
Television EastEnders as Peggy Mitchell (1994–2010, 2013–2016)
Spouse(s)
Ronnie Knight
(m. 1964; div. 1985)

Stephen Hollings
(m. 1986; div. 1995)

Scott Mitchell
(m. 2000)

Dame Barbara Windsor, DBE (born Barbara Ann Deeks; 6 August 1937)[3] is an English actress, known for her appearances in the Carry On films and for playing Peggy Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders.[4] She joined the cast of EastEnders in 1994 and won the 1999 British Soap Award for Best Actress, before finally leaving the show in 2016.

Windsor began her career on stage in 1950 at the age of 13 and made her film debut in The Belles of St Trinian's (1954). She received a BAFTA Award nomination for the film Sparrows Can't Sing (1963), and a Tony Award nomination for the 1964 Broadway production of Oh, What A Lovely War!. In 1972, she starred opposite Vanessa Redgrave in the West End production of The Threepenny Opera. Between 1964 and 1974, she appeared in nine Carry On films, including Carry On Spying (1964), Carry On Doctor (1967), Carry On Camping (1969), Carry On Henry (1971) and Carry On Abroad (1972). She also co-presented the 1977 Carry On compilation That's Carry On!.

Other film roles include A Study in Terror (1965), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), and as the voice of Mallymkun -The Dormouse in Alice in Wonderland (2010) and Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016).

Background

Windsor was born in Shoreditch, London, in 1937 (her birth was registered in Stepney),[5] the only child of John Deeks, a costermonger, and his wife, Rose (née Ellis), a dressmaker. Windsor is of English and Irish ancestry.[6] She passed her 11-plus exams gaining a place at Our Lady's Convent in Stamford Hill. Her mother paid for her to have elocution lessons, and she trained at the Aida Foster School in Golders Green, making her stage debut at 13 and her West End debut in 1952 in the chorus of the musical Love From Judy. She took the stage name Windsor in 1953, inspired by the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.[7]

Her first film role was in The Belles of St Trinian's released in 1954. She joined Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, coming to prominence in their stage production Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be and Littlewood's film Sparrers Can't Sing (1963), achieving a BAFTA nomination for Best British Film Actress. She also appeared in the film comedy Crooks in Cloisters (1964), the fantasy film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) and in the sitcoms The Rag Trade and Wild, Wild Women. Windsor appeared as "Saucy Nancy" in the second series of the ITV children's programme Worzel Gummidge (1980), based on the books by Barbara Euphan Todd.[8]

Carry On films

Windsor at the unveiling of the Joan Littlewood statue at Theatre Royal Stratford East, 4 October 2015

Windsor came to real prominence with her portrayals of a 'good time girl' in nine Carry On films. Her first was Carry On Spying in 1964 and her final Carry On... film acting role was in Carry On Dick in 1974. She also appeared in several Carry On... television and compilation specials between 1964 and 1977.

One of her most iconic scenes was in Carry On Camping in 1969, where her bikini top flew off during outdoor aerobic exercises. In classic Carry On style, exposure is implied but little is in fact seen.[9]

From 1973 to 1975 she appeared with several of the Carry On team in the West End revue Carry On London! During this time she had a well-publicised affair with her co-star, Sid James.[10]

She was strongly identified with the Carry On films for many years, which restricted the variety of roles she was chosen to play later.

Theatre career

Windsor starred on Broadway in the Theatre Workshop's Oh, What a Lovely War! and received a 1965 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She also appeared in Lionel Bart's musical flop Twang! (directed by Joan Littlewood) and in the musical Come Spy with Me with Danny La Rue.

In 1970 she landed the role of music hall legend Marie Lloyd in the musical-biopic Sing A Rude Song. In 1972 she appeared in the West End in Tony Richardson's The Threepenny Opera with Vanessa Redgrave. In 1975, she toured the UK, New Zealand and South Africa in her own show, Carry On Barbara!, and followed this with the role of Maria in Twelfth Night at the Chichester Festival Theatre.

In 1981 she played sex-mad landlady Kath in Joe Orton's black comedy Entertaining Mr Sloane at the Lyric Hammersmith, directed by her friend Kenneth Williams. She reprised the role for a national tour in 1993.[11]

EastEnders

When EastEnders was launched in 1985, the producers said they would not cast well-known actors (Wendy Richard being a rare exception). The Shoreditch-born Windsor said that she regretted this, as she'd liked to have taken part.[12]

By 1994 this policy was relaxed, and Windsor accepted an offer to join EastEnders. She took over the role of Peggy Mitchell (who was previously a minor character played by Jo Warne in 1991), for which she received the Best Actress award at the 1999 British Soap Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 British Soap Awards.

A debilitating case of the Epstein-Barr virus forced a two-year absence from the role between 2003 and 2005, although Windsor was able to make a two episode guest appearance in 2004. She rejoined the cast in mid-2005, initially on a one-year contract, and this was later extended.

The Doctor Who episode "Army of Ghosts", broadcast on 1 July 2006, included a specially-recorded clip featuring her appearing in character. She was seen telling the ghost of Den Watts to "get outta my pub!" (her character's memorable phrase)

In October 2009 Windsor announced she was to leave her role as Peggy Mitchell, saying she wanted to spend more time with her husband.[13] On 10 September 2010 her character left Albert Square after a fire at the Queen Victoria pub, of which she was the owner.[14]

In July 2013, it was announced that Windsor was to return for one episode, which aired on 20 September 2013.[15] She again returned for a single episode on 25 September 2014,[16] and made a further appearance for EastEnders 30th anniversary on 17 February 2015.[17] In February 2015, Windsor, alongside Pam St. Clement (Pat Evans), took part in EastEnders: Back to Ours to celebrate 30 years of EastEnders. Windsor and St. Clement looked back on some of their characters' most dramatic moments.

In November 2015, Windsor secretly filmed a return to EastEnders, which was shown in January 2016. After this, it was confirmed that the character would be killed off later in the year. This was Windsor's decision, as she said that as long as Peggy was alive, she would always be drawn back to playing her.[18] Her last appearance aired on BBC One on 17 May 2016.

Later years

Windsor provided the voice of the Dormouse in Walt Disney's live action adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland (2010), directed by Tim Burton.[19] Windsor appeared in the pantomime Dick Whittington at the Bristol Hippodrome over the Christmas/New Year period of 2010/2011.[20] On 8 September 2010, it was announced that Windsor will be fronting a TV campaign for online bingo site Jackpotjoy as the Queen of Bingo.[21] She appeared as herself in one episode of Come Fly with Me in January 2011.

Since 2011 she has regularly done presenting work for BBC Radio 2 music and showbusiness history programmes. She reprised her voice role of the Dormouse in the film Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016).[22]

In December 2015, it was leaked that she was to be made a Dame in the New Year Honours list.[23] She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to charity and entertainment.[24]

In May 2017, Windsor appeared in a cameo role as herself in the BBC television film, Babs written by EastEnders scriptwriter Tony Jordan. It showed Windsor in the 1990s as she prepares to go on stage and recalls events from her life, including her childhood, marriage to gangster Ronnie Knight, and her roles in the Carry On films.

Relationships and personal life

Windsor has married three times, but has no children.

  1. Ronnie Knight, (married 2 March 1964,[25] divorced January 1985)
  2. Stephen Hollings, chef/restaurateur (married 12 April 1986 in Jamaica,[26] divorced 1995)
  3. Scott Mitchell, former actor and recruitment consultant (married 8 April 2000[27])

Before her marriage to Ronnie Knight, she had a one-night stand with notorious East End gangster Reggie Kray and a longer affair with his older brother Charles Kray.[28] While married to Knight, she had a much publicised affair with actor Sid James; Knight is said to have threatened James with violence.[29] Another of Windsor's Carry On co-stars, Kenneth Williams, accompanied her and Ronnie Knight on their honeymoon.[30] During the 1960s, she had a brief relationship with footballer George Best.[31]

In her 2000 autobiography, All of Me, Windsor talks about her five abortions, the first three of which took place in her twenties and the last when she was 42. She has said she never wanted children as a result of her father rejecting her after her parents' divorce.[32]

Windsor was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2000 New Year Honours. In August 2010, she was given the Freedom of the City of London,[33] and in November 2010, she was honoured by the City of Westminster at a tree planting and plaque ceremony.[34][35]

She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to charity and entertainment.[24][36]

In 2012, she became a patron of the Amy Winehouse Foundation,[37] and in November 2014, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of East London.[38]

On 10 May 2018, it was announced by her husband Scott Mitchell, that Windsor had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in April 2014.[39]

Filmography

Carry On films

Year Film Role
1964Carry On SpyingDaphne Honeybutt
1967Carry On DoctorNurse Sandra May
1969Carry On CampingBabs
Carry On Again DoctorGoldie Locks
1971Carry On HenryBettina
1972Carry On MatronNurse Susan Ball
Carry On AbroadSadie Tomkins
1973Carry On GirlsHope Springs
1974Carry On DickHarriet
1977That's Carry On!Barbara Windsor

Other films

Year Film
1954The Belles of St Trinian's
1955A Kid for Two Farthings
1956Lost
1959Make Mine a Million
1960Too Hot to Handle
1961Flame in the Streets
On the Fiddle
1962Death Trap
Hair of the Dog
1963Sparrows Can't Sing
1964Crooks in Cloisters
1965San Ferry Ann
A Study in Terror
1968Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
1971The Boy Friend
1973Not Now, Darling
1987It Couldn't Happen Here
2001Second Star to the Left
2010Alice in Wonderland
2016Alice Through the Looking Glass
2017Babs

Theatre

Windsor has performed in the following theatre productions:[40]

  • Cinderella – Golders Green Hippodrome, London (1950)
  • Love From Judy – Saville Theatre, London, followed by tour (1952–54)
  • Many Happy Returns – Watergate Theatre, London (1955)
  • Cabaret performances – Côte d'Azur, Soho, London (1955)
  • Red Riding Hood – Shakespeare Theatre, Liverpool (1955/56)
  • Singer with Ronnie Scott's band (1956)
  • Variety at Winston's nightclub, Mayfair, London (1957–58)
  • Keep Your Hair On – Apollo Theatre, London (1958)
  • The Gimmick – toured to Leeds and Wolverhampton (1958)
  • Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be – Theatre Royal, Stratford (1959/60), then Garrick Theatre, both London (1960–62)
  • Oh! What a Lovely War – Broadhurst Theatre, New York City (1964)
  • Twang! – try-out at Palace Theatre, Manchester, then Shaftesbury Theatre, London (1965)
  • Come Spy with Me – try-outs at Theatre Royal, Brighton, New Theatre, Oxford and Golders Green Hippodrome, then Whitehall Theatre, London (1966–67)
  • The Beggar's Opera – Connaught Theatre, Worthing (1967)
  • The Wind in the Sassafras Trees – Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, followed by tour (1968)
  • Sing A Rude Song – Greenwich Theatre, then Garrick Theatre, both London (1970)
  • Cinderella – Theatre Royal, Norwich (1970/71)
  • Cinderella – Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool (1971/72)
  • The Threepenny Opera – Prince of Wales Theatre, then Piccadilly Theatre, both London (1972)
  • The Owl and the Pussycat – toured to Bath, Richmond and Sheffield (1972)
  • Cinderella – Odeon Theatre, Golders Green, London (1972/73)
  • Carry On London! – try-out at Birmingham Hippodrome (1973), then Victoria Palace Theatre, London (1973–75)
  • Carry On Barbara! and A Merry Whiff of Windsor – tours of Australia, New Zealand, UK and South Africa (1975)
  • Aladdin – Richmond Theatre (1975/76)
  • Twelfth Night – Festival Theatre, Chichester (1976)
  • Aladdin – Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (1976/77)
  • Aladdin – Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham (1977/78)
  • Dick Whittington – Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon (1978/79)
  • Calamity Jane – British tour (1979)
  • Dick Whittington – Richmond Theatre (1979/80)
  • Jack and the Beanstalk – Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne (1980/81)
  • Entertaining Mr Sloane – Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, London (1981)
  • The Mating Game – summer season at Grand Theatre, Blackpool (1981)
  • Aladdin – Theatre Royal, Nottingham (1981/82)
  • The Mating Game – British tour (1982)
  • Aladdin – New Theatre, Oxford (1982/83)
  • The Mating Game – summer season at Floral Hall, Scarborough (1983)
  • Aladdin – Festival Theatre, Chichester (1983/84)
  • The Mating Game – summer season at Jersey Opera House (1984)
  • Dick Whittington – Orchard Theatre, Dartford (1984/85)
  • What a Carry on in Butlins! (1985)
  • Aladdin – Theatre Royal, Nottingham (1985/86)
  • Dick Whittington – Beck Theatre, Hayes (1986/87)
  • Babes in the Wood – London Palladium (1987/88)
  • Guys and Dolls – British tour (1988)
  • Babes in the Wood – Churchill Theatre, Bromley (1988/89)
  • The Mating Game – summer season at Pier Theatre, Bournemouth (1989)
  • Cinderella – Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage (1989/90)
  • Cinderella – Wimbledon Theatre, London (1990/91)
  • Guys and Dolls – Theatre Royal, Plymouth, followed by tour (1991)
  • Aladdin – Derngate Theatre, Northampton (1991/92)
  • Wot a Carry on in Blackpool! – North Pier Theatre, Blackpool (1992)
  • Cinderella – Theatre Royal, Brighton (1992/93)
  • Entertaining Mr Sloane – Churchill Theatre, Bromley, followed by tour (1993)
  • Aladdin – Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage (1993/94)
  • Aladdin – The Anvil, Basingstoke (1994/95)
  • Cinderella – Orchard Theatre, Dartford (1995/96)
  • Dick Whittington – Bristol Hippodrome (2010/11)

References

  1. ↑ Randell, Louise. "Barbara Windsor is 'doing well' in her battle with Alzheimer's disease and is going back to work this week, reveals EastEnders' Pam St Clement". www.thesun.co.uk. The Sun. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  2. ↑ Prasad, Suren. "The (estimated) Net Worth of Barbara Windsor", www.spearswms.com, published 10 July 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  3. ↑ "In Pictures: Barbara Windsor at70", BBC, August 2007.
  4. ↑ " Ten Things You Never Knew About Barbara Windsor" Digital Spy 23 May 2007
  5. ↑ GRO Register of Births: SEP 1937 1a 176 STEPNEY – Barbara A. Windsor, mmn = Ellis
  6. ↑ Who Do You Think You Are? – Past Stories – Barbara Windsor, BBC. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  7. ↑ Stevens, Christopher (27 December 2015). "Barbara Windsor unlikely to become a Dame writes Christopher Stevens". Daily Mail. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "Full cast of Wurzel Gummidge". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  9. ↑ Ross, Robert; Collins, Phil (2002), The Carry on companion (40 ed.), Batsford, p. 80, ISBN 978-0-7134-8771-8
  10. ↑ The Daily Mail (online edition), Todd, Ben, 9 October 2010
  11. ↑ "Entertaining Mr. Sloane". PaulFerris.org. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  12. ↑ Hibbin, Sally and Nina Hibbin. What a Carry On: The Official Story of the Carry On Film series, Hamlyn, 1988. ISBN 0-600-55819-3 p. 43
  13. ↑ "Actress Windsor Quits EastEnders". United Kingdom: BBC News. 28 October 2009. Archived from the original on 10 November 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
  14. ↑ Connolly, Lucy (30 September 2010). "Babs: I'll never return to Enders". The Sun. London. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  15. ↑ "Barbara Windsor in EastEnders 'special episode' return". BBC News. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  16. ↑ "EastEnders spoilers: Peggy Mitchell returns – "I hope it was a nice surprise," says Barbara Windsor". Radio Times. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  17. ↑ "BBC News Barbara Windsor to return for EastEnders 30th anniversary". BBC. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  18. ↑ "Dame Barbara Windsor to leave EastEnders for good". BBC. 16 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  19. ↑ New Alice in Wonderland images, BBC Newsbeat
  20. ↑ "Barbara Windsor signs on to panto". BBC News. 31 March 2010.
  21. ↑ Barbara Windsor to Front Jackpotjoy Bingo TV Ad Campaign, jackpotjoy.com. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  22. ↑ "Alice in Wonderland". E. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  23. ↑ Drake, Matthew (26 December 2015). "Barbara Windsor 'to be made a Dame in New Years Honours list' as EastEnders legend gets recognised". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  24. 1 2 "No. 61450". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2015. p. N8.
  25. ↑ GRO Register of Marriages: MAR 1964 5e 828 EDMONTON – Ronald P. Knight = Barbara A. Windsor
  26. ↑ Windsor, Barbara (2000). All of Me: My Extraordinary Life. Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7007-4.
  27. ↑ GRO Register of Marriages: APR 2000 258 284 WESTMINSTER – Scott Mitchell = Barbara A Windsor
  28. ↑ Kray's deathbed secrets revealed", The Guardian, 25 March 2001.
  29. ↑ Leo McKinstry (4 May 2013). "Sid James, the crimper who became Carry On's king". Daily Express. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  30. ↑ Stevens, Christopher. Born Brilliant: The Life of Kenneth Williams, John Murray Publishers, Hachette UK Company, London, 2010; ISBN 978-1-84854-197-9.
  31. ↑ "Barbara Windsor: My secret flings with George Best and a Bee Gee", Daily Mail. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  32. ↑ "Barbara Windsor: Body of evidence". The Guardian. London, UK. 15 March 1999. Retrieved 14 August 2008.
  33. ↑ "Barbara Windsor given freedom of the City of London". BBC News. 4 August 2010.
  34. ↑ BARBARA WINDSOR'S PEAR TREE Weymouth Street, Marylebone, 5 November 2010, YouTube
  35. ↑ Barbara Windsor completes the planting of new trees on Weymouth Street Marylebone Association web site, Thursday, 11 November 2010 Archived 12 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  36. ↑ "New Year's Honours 2016". Government of the United Kingdom. 30 December 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  37. ↑ "Barbara Windsor And Amy Winehouse Had A Secret Friendship", Amy Winehouse official website. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  38. ↑ Babbage, Rachel (20 November 2014). "Barbara Windsor: 'One day I'll say yes to EastEnders return'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  39. ↑ "EastEnders star Barbara Windsor diagnosed with Alzheimer's". BBC News. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  40. ↑ "It's Behind You – Spotlight on Barbara Windsor". Its-behind-you.com. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
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