Gillian Taylforth

Gillian Taylforth is an actress who is mostly known for playing Kathy Beale on the BBC soap opera EastEnders, although she has also had appearances on ITV’s Footballers’ Wives (2002–2006) and The Bill (2002–2006) as Sgt. Nikki Wright (2006–2008).

Early Life:

Gillian Taylforth used to work as a secretary in 1970 before she was given any prominent roles. She had a second job as a secretary to help her pay the expenses.

Career Highlights:

Gillian Taylforth began her acting career in the 1970s, and between little parts, she worked as a secretary until getting her big break. The BBC comedy Hi-de-Hi!, Shelley, Play for Today, On Safari, Minder, Sink or Swim, and The Rag Trade are a few early television appearances.

In the 1980 mafia movie The Long Good Friday, she portrayed Sherry.

Taylforth played Kathy Beale at the premiere of the BBC’s brand-new soap series EastEnders on February 19, 1985. She became incredibly well-known and well-recognized on British television because of her performance.

Taylforth participated in the program up until 1998 when she decided to depart. Taylforth’s character addressed a variety of difficult topics while she was on the program, including rape, domestic abuse, adolescent pregnancies, divorce, alcoholism, and meningitis.

One of the characters in the soap opera who has been around the longest is Kathy. In 1999, she briefly came back to help with the plot of her brother-in-law Grant’s exit, which was portrayed by actor Ross Kemp. On January 6, 2000, Kathy departed Albert Square again.

Taylforth unexpectedly made a cameo as Kathy Beale in a live section of the 30th anniversary broadcast on February 19, 2015. In South Africa in 2006, it was discovered that she had faked her death and had not passed away.

The BBC later announced that Taylforth will play Kathy on a long-term basis. After that, Kathy made another guest appearance in May before coming back regularly in August. In an Eastenders episode from 2020, the BBC disclosed that Kathy Beale was depicted as being 70 years old.

Personal Life and Relationships:

Gillian Taylforth’s parents are Marge Taylforth and Ronnie Taylforth. She also has a sister named Kim Taylforth.

She attended the Performing Arts School in New York City. Later, she attended Middlebury College and received her degree. She has also learned Irish step dance, ballet, tap, jazz, and tumbling.

Gillian Taylforth  was in a relationship with Geoff Knights from 1988 until 2009, and Nick Berry (1985 – 1988) and Dave Fairbairn

After their breakup with Geoff Knights in 2009 he was prohibited from communicating with his ex. Knights was recently charged with violating a directive that forbade him from getting in touch with her.

In 2005, she expelled Knights for having an affair with a bartender but then absolved him. He beat Gillian in front of their kid in 2006 when they were out celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary, and she required three stitches in her head.

In 1992, Gillian lost a lawsuit for libel stemming from a report that said she had committed sex acts on Knights in their Range Rover. In December 2020, Gillian was set to wed Dave Fairbairn, but she decided against it. She is still keeping quiet about why they decided to put off their wedding. They remain close friends.

Jessica Knights, daughter of Gillian Taylforth, was born in February 1992.  Harrison Knights, son of Gillian Taylforth, was born in 1999. She had two children with Geoff Knights.

Related With:

Gillian Taylforth and Barbara Windsor had two of the longest tenures on EastEnders.

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