‘Changing her looks appeals to me’: Patsy Kensit happily morphs into bad girls for TV roles because she can ‘play a character and move on’ – having made her EastEnders debut
Patsy Kensit has said she enjoys turning into a bad girl for TV roles because she can “play a role and move on” and “say all the things I would never do.”
The 54-year-old actress, who currently stars on EastEnders, has been in show business for 50 years and has been cast in other soap operas throughout her career.
And now she’s explained what excites her about playing a bad girl on a TV show.
Speaking to The Mirror: “I’m excited about changing the way you look… you play a character and then move on.
“You can live vicariously through characters if you can play someone who is a total jerk and say all the things I would never do!
Star: Patsy Kensit has said she enjoys morphing into a bad girl for TV roles because she can ‘play a character and move on’ after her debut in EastEnders
She added, “I’ve been in show business for 50 years — I’ve worked every year since I was four.”
Patsy also addressed her upbringing in Lambeth, south London. Her late father James worked for the notorious crime brothers The Kray Twins.
Her father’s involvement in the criminal circle meant he was in and out of prison growing up.
But her school was very different as she was educated in a convent school.
Her career began when she joined Emmerdale as Sadie King and was introduced as Faye Morton in BBC One’s medical drama Holby City in 2007.
It wasn’t until March 2010 that she decided to leave the show — only returning for a one-off episode in 2019.
Patsy made her first soap appearance on EastEnders on Tuesday night as Lola Pearce’s mother.
Though the two didn’t interact, the storyline left fans eagerly anticipating the next episode, as the new character, named Emma Harding, arranged their first meeting by booking a hair appointment with her daughter under a different name.
Role: The 54-year-old actress, who is currently on EastEnders, has been in the cast of other soap operas during her career – including Holby City as Faye Horton (pictured).
The introduction of Emma fits into Lola’s cancer story, in which the mother-of-one nears the end of her terminal diagnosis.
In the episode, Lola called in her daughter Ben’s father and her fiancé Jay for moral support as she told young Lexi that her illness was terminal.
It was an emotional moment between the mother and daughter, who both cried their eyes out in an embrace.
But the nine-year-old had to go to school after finding out – which is where Emma was first spotted on the pitch.
Appearance: Patsy made her first soap appearance on EastEnders on Tuesday night as Lola Pearce’s mother
Storyline: Although the two didn’t interact, the storyline left fans excited for the next episode as the new character named Emma Harding arranged their first meeting by booking a hair appointment with her daughter under a different name
Emma reappears at the end of the episode when Kim is closing the salon after receiving a bouquet from her boyfriend Howie.
Their smooch is quickly interrupted when Emma walks in to ask for an appointment.
Kim writes them on the calendar and says she’ll put them up with Denise – but Emma interrupts and asks to put them up with Lola.
Not only that, she’s booking it under the name Nicole instead of her own name, Emma.
Introduction: Emma reappears at the end of the episode when Kim is closing the salon after receiving a bouquet from her boyfriend Howie