Patsy Kensit
Born: 1968-03-04 in Lambeth, London, England
Known For: Acting
Biography
Patricia Jude Francis "Patsy" Kensit (born 4 March 1968) is an English actress and singer. Beginning her career as a child actor, Kensit gained attention when she acted in a string of commercials for Birds Eye frozen peas. She went on to appear in films such as The Great Gatsby (1974), Gold (1974), Alfie Darling (1975), Hennessy (1975), The Blue Bird (1976) and Hanover Street (1979). Balancing a dual career as both an actress and a singer, in 1983 Kensit formed and became the lead singer of the pop band Eighth Wonder. The group released several singles, including the top 20 hits "I'm Not Scared" and "Cross My Heart", before disbanding in 1989. Kensit achieved further success in her breakthrough role as Suzette in the musical film Absolute Beginners (1986) and as Rika van den Haas in Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) before starring in the films Blue Tornado (1991), Timebomb (1991), Twenty-One (1991), Blame It on the Bellboy (1992), Bitter Harvest (1993), Full Eclipse (1993), Angels & Insects (1995), Love and Betrayal (1995) and Grace of My Heart (1996). Following a return to television, between 2004 and 2006, Kensit played the role of Sadie King in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale and then that of Faye Morton in the BBC One medical drama Holby City from 2007 to 2010, and again for an episode in 2019. Throughout 2023, she played Emma Harding in EastEnders. Kensit has been married to musicians Dan Donovan, Jim Kerr, Liam Gallagher and Jeremy Healy. Kensit was nominated for the Young Artist Award for Best Juvenile Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in Hanover Street (1979). In 1991, she was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead in Twenty-One (1991), and later had several nominations for her role in Emmerdale. Patricia Jude Francis Kensit was born on 4 March 1968, at the General Lying-In Hospital, Lambeth, to James and Margaret Rose (née Doohan). Kensit's maternal grandparents hailed from County Leitrim, Ireland. She has an older brother. Her mother was a secretary at Dior and former model, who had previously dated Aga Khan IV, while Kensit's father was a close associate of both the Kray Twins and the Richardson Gang, earning himself the nickname "Jimmy the Dip", and was involved in the Great Train Robbery. He served time in prison before Kensit was born and used a cover as an antiques dealer. Kensit's godfather was Reggie Kray. Her paternal grandfather was a robber and counterfeiter. Kensit spent her childhood living on a council estate in Hounslow and had to sleep on mattresses on the floor. She attended Newland House School, St Catherine's School, Twickenham, and Corona Theatre School.
Filmography
2025
- A Scottish Christmas Secret
- Borley Rectory: The Awakening as Constance Bull
2024
- A Gangster's Kiss as Crassus
2022
- Renegades as Judy Carver
2021
- Never Mind the Buzzcocks as Self - Panellist
- The Pebble and the Boy as Sonia
2020
- McDonald & Dodds as Barbara Graham
2017
- Richard Osman's House of Games as Self - Contestant
- Tina & Bobby as Betty Greene
2016
- Agatha Raisin as Emma Comfrey
2015
- The 90s: Ten Years That Changed the World as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2011
2009
- Alan Carr: Chatty Man as Self
- Chris Moyles' Quiz Night as Self
2008
2007
- The Graham Norton Show as Self
- Would I Lie to You? as Self
- The Magic Door as Rachel
2006
- Played as Cindy
- The Children's Party at the Palace as The Grand High Witch (The Witches)
- The Charlotte Church Show
2005
- 8 Out of 10 Cats as Self
- Monkey Trousers
- A Bear's Tail as Helen Hennerson
- Must See TV
- The Friday Night Project as Self - Guest Host
2004
- The Paul O'Grady Show as Self - Guest
- Who Do You Think You Are? as Self
- Who's Your Daddy? as Heather McKay
2003
- Shelter Island as Alexandria 'Alex'
- Dark Side as Vicki
- Strange Frequency² as Angie (segment 'Cold Turkey')
2002
- Bad Karma as Maureen Hatcher / Agnes
- Bo' Selecta! as Self
- The One and Only as Stella
2001
- Celebrity Big Brother as Self
- Murder in Mind as Angela Stephenson
- Loves Music, Loves To Dance as Darcy Scott
- Things Behind the Sun as Denise
2000
- Best as Anna
- The Pavilion as Clara Huddlestone
- Aladdin: The ITV Pantomime as Princess Jasmine
1999
- Holby City as Faye Byrne
- Speedway Junky as Donna
- Janice Beard 45 WPM as Julia
1998
- Human Bomb as Marcia Weller
- The Last Don II as Josie Cirolia
1996
- TFI Friday as Self
- Grace of My Heart as Cheryl Steed
1995
- Soccer AM as Self
- Lo + plus as Self - Guest
- Dream Man as Kris Anderson
- Kleptomania as Julie
- Angels and Insects as Eugenia Alabaster Adamson
- At the Midnight Hour as Elisabeth Guiness
- Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story as Mia Farrow
- Tunnel Vision as Kelly Wheatstone
1994
- Fall from Grace as Lady Deirdre Sebright
1993
- Full Eclipse as Casey Spencer
- Shooting Stars as Self
- Bitter Harvest as Jolene
1992
- Adam Bede as Hetty Sorrel
- Does This Mean We're Married? as Deena
- The Turn of the Screw as Jenny
- Blame It on the Bellboy as Caroline Wright
- Tales from the Crypt - Uncut
1991
- Blue Tornado as Isabella
- Prince of Shadows as Rebeca
- Twenty-one as Katie
- Timebomb as Dr. Anna Nolmar
1990
- Kill Cruise as Su
- Bullseye! as Sick Lady on Train
- Chicago Joe and the Showgirl as Joyce Cook
1989
- Tales from the Crypt as Bridget (segment "As Ye Sow")
- Lethal Weapon 2 as Rika Van Den Haas
- Screen One as Hetty Sorrel
- A Chorus of Disapproval as Linda Washbrook
- Arms and the Man as Louka - maid
1988
- Don Bosco as Lina
1987
- Sacrée Soirée as Self - Eight Wonder
- Le monde est à vous as Self - Eight Wonder
- French & Saunders as Self
- Lahaye d'honneur as Self - Eight Wonder
1986
- Casualty as Charlotte Leith-Jones
- Absolute Beginners as Suzette
1985
- Silas Marner as Eppie
- The Corsican Brothers as Emilie du Cailland
1984
- Diana as Young Diana
1983
- The Tragedy of Richard III as Lady Margaret Plantagenet
- Luna
1982
- The Adventures of Pollyanna as Pollyanna
- Schoolgirl Chums as Hilary
1980
1979
- Lady Oscar as young Oscar François de Jarjayes
- Hanover Street as Sarah Sellinger
- Quincy's Quest as Jennifer
- The Legend of King Arthur as Morgan le Fay as a child
1978
- Quiet as a Nun as Tessa
1976
- Dickens of London as Georgina Hogarth
- The Blue Bird as Mytyl
1975
- Hennessy as Angie Hennessy
- Alfie Darling as Penny
1974
- The Great Gatsby as Pamela Buchanan
- Churchill's People as Brewster child
1972
- Emmerdale as Sadie King
1951
- Hallmark Hall of Fame as Emilie du Caillaud