Gillian Taylforth

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gillian Taylforth playing Kathy Beale in EastEnders (1985).

Gillian Taylforth (born in London, England on 14 August 1955) is a British actress. She is best known for her roles as Kathy Hills on the BBC soap opera, EastEnders (1985-1998; 1999-2000) and as Jackie Pascoe-Webb on ITV's Footballers Wives (2002-2006).

1 Career
2 Personal life
3 Filmography
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Career

Taylforth started her career in the 1970's and attended the Anna Scher Theatre School in London. Before securing her big acting break Taylforth worked as a secretary between minor acting roles. Early television appearances include roles in the BBC comedy Hi-de-Hi!, Shelley, Play for Today, On Safari, Minder, Sink or Swim and The Rag Trade. In 1980 she won the role of Sherry in the film The Long Good Friday, which proved to be extremely successful at the box office.

In 1985 Taylforth was cast as Kathy Beale in BBC's fledgling serial drama EastEnders; a role that made her a household name throughout the UK. During her 15 years in the show Taylforth's character covered an array of serious issues including rape, marital abuse, teenage pregnancy, divorce, alcoholism and meningitis. She became one of the longest running characters to feature in the soap. Although press rumours throughout 2005 suggested that Taylforth was returning to the show,^[1] this did not occur and the character of Kathy was subsequently killed off-screen in February 2006. Taylforth has commented: "I was a bit upset at first because it was 13 years of my life and I didn't like the thought of being killed off. I thought she might come back to see Ian (her on-screen son) and have some illness. But that's the way it goes."^[2]

After quitting EastEnders Taylforth was cast as Jackie Pascoe-Webb in ITV's popular televised drama, Footballers Wives.In a Channel 4 poll for the 100 Greatest Sexy Moments, a time where she ends up having sex on top of a snooker table with Cristian Solimeno, was placed at number 49. She played the role for five series.

In 2006 she played the role of Mandy Searle in the comedy/drama Jane Hall and she also appeared as a host on ITV's topical chat-show Loose Women. Her latest project is a regular part in ITV's police drama, The Bill. She plays Sergeant Nikki Wright and made her first screen appearance on 8th November 2006.^[3]

[edit] Personal life

Taylforth is the sister of actor Kim Taylforth.

Taylforth has been with her current partner, Geoff Knights for over 18 years - the couple live in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire. She gave birth to their daughter Jessica in 1992. In 1996 she suffered a miscarriage, and less than a year later doctors told her that the baby she was carrying had severe abnormalities and she was advised to terminate the pregnancy."^[2] In 1999 she became a mother for a second time at the age of 43, to son Harrison.

Knights and Taylforth have an extensive tabloid media history, since their unsuccessful 1992 court case against The Sun newspaper, over a story claiming she was caught by poilice performing oral sex on Knights in their Range Rover ^[4]. In 1994 Knights threw a policeman down stairs after a martial disagreement, and was convicted of assault. On another occasion in 1995 the couple's chauffeur was allegedly hit by Knights as he helped Taylforth move out of their home. Six years later in 2001 Knights had to be restrained by 10 poliemen after he smashed up his family home following an argument with Taylforth at a restaurant. Most recently, in November 2006, after celebrating their 20 year anniversary, Knights was again arrested following another bust-up with Taylforth and spent 18 hours in a police cell. Knights reportedly argued with Taylforth in front of their seven year old son at their home in Herts, and then allegedly punched her so hard she careered over a sofa, requiring three stiches in her scalp. Taylforth was forced to contact the police resulting in his arrest, but she has allegedly dropped all charges against her partner. ^[5]

In 1995 Taylforth wrote an autobiography entitled Kathy and Me in which she describes her childhood, her teenage years, her first forays into acting and her lifestyle. During her time in EastEnders she dated her fellow cast-mate Nick Berry, who played Simon Wicks.^[6]