Jessie Wallace

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–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.<ref name="ten things">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Jessie Wallace interview, BBC One Show – 9 May 2008</ref><ref name="amazon.com">Template:Cite book</ref> Wallace is of Irish ancestry, by way of Cork and Dublin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="amazon.com"/> She adopted her stage name after her late grandmother.<ref name="guardian 2007">Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref name="guardian 2007"/> 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.<ref name="guardian 2007"/> 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.<ref name="TJWS">Template:Cite web</ref> Her first television appearance was in an episode of the ITV police drama series The Bill in 1999 as P.C. Karen Lace.<ref name="tv guide">Template:Cite web</ref>

EastEnders

Wallace is known for playing the role of Kat Slater in BBC One soap opera EastEnders.<ref name="Kat BBC">Template:Cite web</ref> She initially portrayed the role between September 2000 and December 2005.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2007, Wallace said she hadn't ruled out a return to EastEnders.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In February 2010, it was announced that Shane Richie was returning to play Alfie Moon, leading to speculation that Wallace would also be returning. On 9 February 2010, the BBC confirmed that Wallace was returning to EastEnders, reprising her role as Kat Slater. Kat and Alfie's return scenes aired in September 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="not returning">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other work

File:Jessie Wallace.jpg

Wallace after a performance of The Perfect Murder at the Theatre Royal in February 2016

During her break from EastEnders, Wallace made television guest appearances, including once as Kat Slater, in the 2005 French and Saunders Christmas special.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In February 2006, Wallace was the guest host of an edition of the Channel 4 programme The Friday Night Project.<ref name="ten things"/> 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.<ref name="a class apart">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="dinner party">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="wild at heart">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Wallace competed with partner Darren Bennett in the sixth series of Strictly Come Dancing which began on 20 September 2008.<ref name="strictly">Template:Cite web</ref> They were the fourth couple to be eliminated from the competition in week 4.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Wallace toured the UK in the 25th Anniversary production of Stepping Out by Richard Harris, playing the role of Sylvia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2014, Wallace reprised her role as Marie Lloyd in the music video for Tim Arnold's single "The Piccadilly Trot".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She later appeared on Arnold's album The Soho Hobo on a duet that he wrote called "Soho Sunset".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wallace was also cast as the Fairy godmother in the White Rock Theatre production of Cinderella.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="Theatre Royal">Template:Cite news</ref>

Wallace is a patron of the theatre charity The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

When Wallace joined EastEnders, her personal life became the focus of many tabloid newspapers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She had been in 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 man, who subsequently sold his story.<ref name="TJWS"/>

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, with a blood alcohol level one-and-a-half times over the limit.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The BBC offered her counselling and while attending county court for sentencing she was accompanied by a policeman, Dave Morgan. Morgan and Wallace began dating. She gave birth to their daughter on 2 November 2004, but the couple split up shortly afterwards, with Wallace's lawyers placing a gag order on Morgan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In a tabloid story which surfaced in September 2007 whilst Wallace was filming Wild at Heart in Johannesburg with others, one of whom suggested she still regularly took ketamine.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> Wallace admitted, at one point, to taking drugs, but denied taking them since the birth of her daughter.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>

In January 2020, Wallace was suspended from EastEnders again by the BBC, with a two-month suspension due to an "incident while filming".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In March 2022, Wallace became a grandmother for the first time, after her daughter gave birth to a son.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In June 2022, Wallace was arrested after she assaulted a police officer outside a nightclub in Bury St Edmunds.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She was released without charge but received a conditional caution.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In response, Wallace was issued a warning for "unacceptable behaviour" by EastEnders bosses.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
1999	The Bill	P.C. Karen Lace	Episode: "A Night to Forget"	<ref name="tv guide" />
2000–2005, 2010–2016, 2018–present	EastEnders	Kat Slater	Regular role	<ref name="Kat BBC" />
2007	A Class Apart	Candy Jerome	Television film	<ref name="a class apart" />
	Miss Marie Lloyd	Marie Lloyd		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	The Dinner Party	Jackie		<ref name="dinner party" />
2008	Wild at Heart	Amy Kriel	Main role (season 3)	<ref name="wild at heart" />
	Strictly Come Dancing	Herself	Main role (season 6)	<ref name="strictly" />
2010	The Road to Coronation Street	Pat Phoenix	Television film	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2017	Kat & Alfie: Redwater	Kat Slater	Main role	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2020	EastEnders: Secrets from the Square	Herself	Episode: "Kat and Stacey"	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2025	EastEnders: 40 Years on the Square	Herself	Interviewed guest	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
2017	Amoc	Lecturer		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Awards and nominations

Year	Ceremony	Award	Work	Result	Template:Abbr
2001	The British Soap Awards	Sexiest Female	EastEnders	Template:Nom
		Best Newcomer		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	National Television Awards	Most Popular Newcomer		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Inside Soap Awards	Best Newcomer		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	TV Quick and TV Choice Awards			Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2002	British Soap Awards	Best Actress		Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
		Best Dramatic Performance		Template:Nom
		Hero of the Year		Template:Nom
		Sexiest Female		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Inside Soap Awards	Best Actress		Template:Nom
		Sexiest Female		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	TV Quick and TV Choice Awards	Best Soap Actress		Template:Nom
	National Television Awards	Most Popular Actress		Template:Nom
2003	British Soap Awards	Best Actress		Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
		Sexiest Female		Template:Won
	TV Quick and TV Choice Awards	Best Soap Actress		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	National Television Awards	Most Popular Actress		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Inside Soap Awards	Best Actress		Template:Nom
2004	British Soap Awards	Best Actress		Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
		Sexiest Female		Template:Won
		Best On-Screen Partnership (with Shane Richie)		Template:Nom
	National Television Awards	Most Popular Actress		Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Inside Soap Awards	Best Actress		Template:Nom
		Best Couple (with Shane Richie)		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
		Sexiest Female		Template:Nom
	TV Quick and TV Choice Awards	Best Soap Actress		Template:Nom
2005	British Soap Awards	Best Actress		Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
		Sexiest Female		Template:Nom
	National Television Awards	Most Popular Actress		Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2006	British Soap Awards	Best Actress		Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
		Best Exit (with Shane Richie)		Template:Nom
2011		Best Actress		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
		Best On-Screen Partnership (with Shane Richie)		Template:Won
	All About Soap Bubble Awards	Best Actress		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	TRIC Awards	TV Soap Personality		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	TV Quick and TV Choice Awards	Best Soap Actress		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Inside Soap Awards	Best Actress		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	BAFTA Awards	Best Supporting Actress	The Road to Coronation Street	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	TV Times Awards	Favourite Soap Star	EastEnders	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2012	National Television Awards	Outstanding Serial Drama Performance		Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2013	British Soap Awards	Best Actress		Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

External links

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