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The star of EastEnders and the Carry On films turns 80 this year and with a career which has spanned several decades, Dame Barbara Windsor is almost as recognisable and as loved as the Queen.<\/p>\n
Dame Barbara was in her fifties when she landed the coveted role of feisty Peggy Mitchell, the landlady of the Queen Vic in EastEnders in 1994.<\/p>\n
She made the role her own and not only went on to play the formidable matriarch for the next 20 years, but set a benchmark for achievement in \u2018the third age\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI take my work very seriously, which always surprises people as I am not like my image,\u201d says the TV star.<\/p>\n
Peggy Mitchell was a world away from the bubbly, platinum blondes Barbara played in the Carry On films in her youth. The saucy British comedies, which featured household names such as Sid James and Kenneth Williams, made the young \u2018Babs\u2019 a household name, although this later came at a price.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe casting directors and people in the industry were still seeing the (Carry On) films on TV and thought of me as that sexy young blonde again, when in fact I was in my 50s and work had slowed right down,\u201d said Dame Barbara.<\/p>\n
However, her fame and talent was seized upon by EastEnders\u2019 producers and, at a time when many actresses would expect to slow down, Barbara became busier than ever and a mainstay of the soap opera. Her catchphrase, \u2018get outta my pub\u2019 has become almost as well-known as she is.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was actually EastEnders that gave me the chance to play my age and do some dramatic acting, and that changed everything for me,\u201d says the soap legend. \u201cI will be eternally grateful to the BBC for giving me that chance. When all is said and done, I am immensely proud to be a part of two great British institutions, the Carry On films and EastEnders.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though Dame Barbara has now left the show, (her last broadcast appearance was in May 2016), her place in the hall of fame has been assured; so much so that the BBC made a biopic of her early life, BABS, which aired earlier this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cActually seeing it played back in front of me and reliving such powerful memories and things that had happened in my life, was truly overwhelming,\u201d says the actress.<\/p>\n
Dame Barbara first started acting when she was just 13, when she was evacuated from London\u2019s East End to Blackpool during WW2 to escape the bombing. The family she was living with sent her to dancing school and Barbara took to it \u201clike a duck to water\u201d. On her return to London she was given a note for her mother which read: \u201cBabs is a natural show off and please make sure she continues her singing and dancing lessons.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s where it all began,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
It was the beginning of a long and colourful career. Dame Barbara worked with the brilliant director Joan Littlewood of Stratford East Theatre Workshop, who cast and directed her in the musical comedy, \u201cFings Ain\u2019t Wot They Used To Be\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe clashed at first, as I hated the way she worked, but Joan pushed me and always said I was capable of being a fine actress and more than the sexy little blonde I ended up being cast as later in my career. I have a lot to thank this incredible lady for,\u201d says Dame Barbara.<\/p>\n
\u201cFings\u201d transferred to the Garrick Theatre in London\u2019s West End and the composer Lionel Bart (who created \u2018Oliver\u2019) wrote the blonde bombshell a solo number in the show. \u201cIt got a standing ovation every night,\u201d she says. The show ran for two years and Dame Barbara became established as \u201ca recognisable name and face,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Dame Barbara\u2019s success has earned her many awards and honours, culminating in a Damehood last year for services both to entertainment and charity. \u201cThat\u2019s a hard one to beat. It\u2019s lovely to be recognised for something you have done and loved doing all your life,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Her charitable work has been extensive and she has worked with Age Concern, Age UK and Variety, the Children\u2019s Charity, amongst many others. In 2016 she also won a Churchill Award for charity. \u201cI was very honoured and attended the most wonderful lunch and met some great people.\u201d<\/p>\n
These days, the star still accepts the occasional part, though she is quite selective in what she does. \u201dIn general I think that the longer you can keep working the better, as it keeps the mind engaged,\u201d says Dame Barbara.<\/p>\n
One of her regular jobs \u201cwhich I love doing\u201d, she says, is presenting Radio 2\u2019s \u2018Barbara Windsor Celebrates\u2019 about famous show-business personalities. There is \u201cno need for make up or worrying if the audience has turned up and that suits me fine right now,\u201d she says. \u201cWithout sounding big headed I have done everything I wanted to do in my career, so it\u2019s nice to feel relaxed about it all now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still blonde and bubbly, she lives with her third husband, former actor and now theatrical agent, Scott Mitchell. (Barbara\u2019s previous two husbands were small time gangster Ronnie Knight and chef Stephen Hollings). The couple have been together over twenty years and when they are not spotted strolling through central London or relaxing on a Caribbean beach, they can often be seen in the West End, enjoying a show.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love the theatre. There is nothing better than being taken on a journey and forgetting the outside world for a while,\u201d says Dame Barbara who admits she\u2019s also still a big fan of the soaps and \u201cI do like the talent shows like Britain\u2019s Got Talent and The X Factor. There are also incredible dramas to watch on all the channels now,\u201d she says. \u201cBut I guess I am happiest watching an old John Wayne cowboy film or old Hollywood musical. They don\u2019t make them like that anymore.\u201d They certainly don\u2019t.<\/p>\n
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There are few people who are real national treasures, but Dame Barbara Windsor DBE is one of them. The star of EastEnders and the Carry On films turns 80 this year and with a career which has spanned several decades, Dame Barbara Windsor is almost as recognisable and as loved as the Queen. Dame Barbara<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13605,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[225],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n