She was immortalised into British television folklore with her trademark call of “Rickaaay!” in EastEnders.
But playing the part of the brazen redhead Bianca Jackson in the long-running BBC soap was far from being Patsy Palmer’s first acting role.
The 50-year-old from east London had been a child actor in school drama Grange Hill in the 1980s, and had also appeared on the West End, starring in the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
Her acting career was accompanied with a two-decade battle with alcohol and drugs, with the TV star saying she had a problem from as young as age 10.
(Image: Getty Images)
She has since kicked the habit and does not allow booze in her house.
Palmer, who is currently living in the US where she has a DJ career, will be back on screens in January 2023 after becoming the first celebrity to be announced for the upcoming Dancing On Ice series on ITV.
Who is Patsy Palmer?
(Image: Getty Images)
Patsy was born Julie Anne Harris on May 26, 1972, in Bethnal Green, east London.
Her mother first spotted her acting talent and encouraged her to go to Anna Scher’s famous acting school in London.
After enrolling at the school, Palmer learnt that there was already an actress with the name Julie Harris.
She decided to give herself a new stage moniker by borrowing her mother’s maiden name and changing her first name to a nickname her mother, Pat, was sometimes called.
Patsy made her screen debut in the television programme The Gentle Touch in 1984 and would go on to feature in the kids series Grange Hill from 1986 to 1987.
She went on to have small roles in BBC’s Tricky Business (1989), Making News (1990), Clarissa (1991), Love Hurts (1992), Drop The Dead Donkey (1993), and The Bill (1993) before landing her most iconic part.
How long was Patsy Palmer in EastEnders?
In 1993, Patsy was cast in the role of feisty Bianca Jackson in EastEnders.
She has appeared in the show on and off over the course of almost 30 years.
During her first spell in the soap as Bianca, her character’s rocky romance with Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen) captivated fans and their on-screen marriage in 1997 drew one of the biggest soap audiences ever — 22 million viewers.
It was through this relationship and its ups and downs that the phrase “Rickaaay” was coined, with Bianca often hollering after her fella across Albert Square.
She remained in the role for six years, but quit in 1999 to spend more time with her family and to concentrate on other projects.
Despite criticising EastEnders after her exit, branding some of the story lines “ridiculous”, she made a number of returns in the following years.
She made her on-screen comeback in April 2008, completing a six-year stint in the reprised role.
The mother-of-four returned briefly again in the autumn of 2019 and was even due to come back again in 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic put pay to the idea.
What else is Patsy Palmer known for?
(Image: ITV)
After quitting EastEnders the first time, Patsy worked on the debut series of OK TV with Fiona Phillips in 1999.
That same year Patsy made a cameo appearance as herself in an episode of Kathy Burke’s sitcom, Gimme Gimme Gimme, which made light of her role as Bianca Jackson.
Patsy has also released numerous work-out DVDs.
She might be lacing up her ice skating boots for her latest reality TV appearance, but she is no stranger to having a go at reality shows.
To raise money for Children In Need in 2005, Palmer was partnered up with Anton Du Beke on Strictly Come Dancing.
In 2020, she took part in The Masked Singer as Butterfly and also Celebrity Bake Off.
Patsy had a stage career after leaving EastEnders and starred in the one-woman musical Tell Me On A Sunday.
She had a leading role in a UK tour of the musical Steppin’ Out and appeared in the original West End run of Mum’s The Word.
She has been DJing since 2012, and has carried on her career switch since moving to the States in 2014.
Covid controversy
The Londoner raised eyebrows in November 2021 when she was pictured taking part in a “freedom march” in Los Angeles to protest against mandatory Covid vaccines.
She was demonstrating after it had been announced that LA would require students 12 and older to be vaccinated against the coronavirus if they attended in-person classes.
Paler posted a picture on her Instagram holding a placard which read “Freedom Over Force”.
On her Instagram Story, Patsy wrote: “I am pro freedom for myself and my children. I am pro love for the human race. I am not anti-vax.”
Patsy’s life in LA
(Image: Instagram)
Patsy quit the UK and moved out to California in 2014, and now lives the high life in sunny Malibu.
To make a living she runs a wellness page on social media and has become a lifestyle guru.
She regularly posts inspirational quotes on her Instagram and is a fan of meditation.
“Looking at yourself when you are in a happy mindset is so much nicer than when we are feeling low and defeated or depleted,” she wrote on one post.
“If you can do a guided meditation based on positive self image or repeat positive affirmations then take a good and proper look at yourself you will see your unique personality shine through.”
Is Patsy Palmer married?
The actress has been married to Richard Merkell since 2000.
She was previously married to screen writer Nick Love from 1998-2000.
She has four children — Charley (born 1992), Fenton (born 2000), Emilia (born 2001) and Bertie (born 2010).
When the family moved to Malibu, Charley stayed in England to become an actor.
Son of boxer Alfie Rothwell, Charley has had parts in Darkest Hour, Dunkirk and Midas Man, as well as BBC series Our Girl.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
