TELLY star Patsy Kensit has landed a role in EastEnders as the mum of tragic Lola Pearce.
Ex-model Patsy, 54, will start filming later this month in scenes due to air around Christmas.
Patsy Kensit has landed her dream acting role in BBC soap EastEnders
Patsy previously said she wanted to have a role like EastEnders legend Peggy Mitchell
She has appeared in Emmerdale and Holby but has always dreamed of a role in Albert Square.
She secured her dream part on the BBC soap after previously declaring she always “wanted to be like Peggy Mitchell”.
London-born Patsy’s real family had links to the East End’s criminal underworld.
Her pickpocket dad was nicknamed Jimmy The Dip and was an associate of feared 1960s gangsters the Kray Twins.
She was brought up on a council estate around well-known mobsters and Reggie Kray was even her brother’s godfather.
In her autobiography Absolute Beginner she said she had to flee to Paris as her dad was on the run.
And she described parties held at her dad’s pals’ homes as “like something straight out of The Sopranos”.
Her surprise arrival in Walford comes as big name stars including Danny Dyer, 45, who plays Mick Carter, and Charlie Brooks, 41 (Janine Butcher) leave the soap.
An EastEnders source said: “Bosses are thrilled they have managed to get Patsy for this role.
“She’s a great actress and is about to play a part in one of their biggest current storylines.”
In the show, Emma left Lola and her father behind when her daughter was only three, and has never been seen on screen before.
In the show, Emma left Lola and her father behind when her daughter was only three, and has never been seen on screen before.
Danielle Harold, who plays Lola is set to leave the soap following the storyline which will mirror the untimely death of The Wanted’s Tom Parker.
Producers discussed the effect that Tom’s tragic story had on the nation and plan to replicate the emotions in Albert Square.
The singer died in March aged just 33.
A telly mole said: “There is a lot of excitement and buzz on set surrounding what will be an explosive storyline.”
Patsy has previously starred in Emmerdale as villain Sadie King and Holby City as nurse Faye Morton.
She competed in Strictly Come Dancing with pro partner Robin Windsor in 2010.
Her many credits include film roles in Absolute Beginners (1986) and Lethal Weapon 2 (1989).
Mum-of-two Patsy’s new role comes as she is set to marry for the fifth time after getting engaged to multi-millionaire property tycoon Patric Cassidy, 58, in September.
Patsy Kensit became the ultimate rock chick, wedding a string of musicians, before carving a career as a successful actress.
She was first married to Big Audio Dynamite musician Dan Donovan, then Simple Minds star Jim Kerr, Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, and DJ Jeremy Healy.
EAST END PATSY
Speaking in 2019 Patsy said: “I’d love to do EastEnders, my father was involved in organised crime in the East End, so I grew up around villains and that kind of backdrop.
“I can pull a pint and say, ‘You’re barred’.”
Asked by Radio Times whether she thought she could be the next Peggy, the actress said: “I do think that! I’m not insulting Barbara Windsor because I think she’s so wonderful.
“But I’d like to play a really strong matriarch.
“I’ve got a good bit of energy, so I’d like to go out with a real bang and play someone like that.”
