Patsy Kensit
Acting • Born 1968-03-04
Biography
Patricia Jude Francis "Patsy" Kensit (born 4 March 1968) is an English actress and singer. Beginning her career as a child actor, Kensit gained attention when she acted in a string of commercials for Birds Eye frozen peas. She went on to appear in films such as The Great Gatsby (1974), Gold (1974), Alfie Darling (1975), Hennessy (1975), The Blue Bird (1976) and Hanover Street (1979). Balancing a dual career as both an actress and a singer, in 1983 Kensit formed and became the lead singer of the pop band Eighth Wonder. The group released several singles, including the top 20 hits "I'm Not Scared" and "Cross My Heart", before disbanding in 1989. Kensit achieved further success in her breakthrough role as Suzette in the musical film Absolute Beginners (1986) and as Rika van den Haas in Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) before starring in the films Blue Tornado (1991), Timebomb (1991), Twenty-One (1991), Blame It on the Bellboy (1992), Bitter Harvest (1993), Full Eclipse (1993), Angels & Insects (1995), Love and Betrayal (1995) and Grace of My Heart (1996). Following a return to television, between 2004 and 2006, Kensit played the role of Sadie King in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale and then that of Faye Morton in the BBC One medical drama Holby City from 2007 to 2010, and again for an episode in 2019. Throughout 2023, she played Emma Harding in EastEnders. Kensit has been married to musicians Dan Donovan, Jim Kerr, Liam Gallagher and Jeremy Healy. Kensit was nominated for the Young Artist Award for Best Juvenile Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in Hanover Street (1979). In 1991, she was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead in Twenty-One (1991), and later had several nominations for her role in Emmerdale. Patricia Jude Francis Kensit was born on 4 March 1968, at the General Lying-In Hospital, Lambeth, to James and Margaret Rose (née Doohan). Kensit's maternal grandparents hailed from County Leitrim, Ireland. She has an older brother. Her mother was a secretary at Dior and former model, who had previously dated Aga Khan IV, while Kensit's father was a close associate of both the Kray Twins and the Richardson Gang, earning himself the nickname "Jimmy the Dip", and was involved in the Great Train Robbery. He served time in prison before Kensit was born and used a cover as an antiques dealer. Kensit's godfather was Reggie Kray. Her paternal grandfather was a robber and counterfeiter. Kensit spent her childhood living on a council estate in Hounslow and had to sleep on mattresses on the floor. She attended Newland House School, St Catherine's School, Twickenham, and Corona Theatre School.
Filmography
110 credits
Lethal Weapon 2
Movie • 1989
Rika Van Den Haas
Lady Oscar
Movie • 1979
young Oscar François de Jarjayes
Angels and Insects
Movie • 1995
Eugenia Alabaster Adamson
Kill Cruise
Movie • 1990
Su
Blame It on the Bellboy
Movie • 1992
Caroline Wright
Absolute Beginners
Movie • 1986
Suzette
Dream Man
Movie • 1995
Kris Anderson
The Children's Party at the Palace
Movie • 2006
The Grand High Witch (The Witches)
Played
Movie • 2006
Cindy
Timebomb
Movie • 1991
Dr. Anna Nolmar
Shelter Island
Movie • 2003
Alexandria 'Alex'
Grace of My Heart
Movie • 1996
Cheryl Steed
Blue Tornado
Movie • 1991
Isabella
The One and Only
Movie • 2002
Stella
Loves Music, Loves To Dance
Movie • 2001
Darcy Scott
Adam Bede
Movie • 1992
Hetty Sorrel
Full Eclipse
Movie • 1993
Casey Spencer
Arms and the Man
Movie • 1989
Louka - maid
Silas Marner
Movie • 1985
Eppie
The Blue Bird
Movie • 1976
Mytyl
Human Bomb
Movie • 1998
Marcia Weller
Strange Frequency²
Movie • 2003
Angie (segment 'Cold Turkey')
The Turn of the Screw
Movie • 1992
Jenny
At the Midnight Hour
Movie • 1995
Elisabeth Guiness
Twenty-one
Movie • 1991
Katie
Janice Beard 45 WPM
Movie • 1999
Julia
Quincy's Quest
Movie • 1979
Jennifer
Bitter Harvest
Movie • 1993
Jolene
The Pavilion
Movie • 2000
Clara Huddlestone
Renegades
Movie • 2022
Judy Carver
Don Bosco
Movie • 1988
Lina
The Corsican Brothers
Movie • 1985
Emilie du Cailland
Prince of Shadows
Movie • 1991
Rebeca
Tunnel Vision
Movie • 1995
Kelly Wheatstone
Chicago Joe and the Showgirl
Movie • 1990
Joyce Cook
Schoolgirl Chums
Movie • 1982
Hilary
The Magic Door
Movie • 2007
Rachel
Does This Mean We're Married?
Movie • 1992
Deena
A Chorus of Disapproval
Movie • 1989
Linda Washbrook
Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story
Movie • 1995
Mia Farrow
Hanover Street
Movie • 1979
Sarah Sellinger
Bad Karma
Movie • 2002
Maureen Hatcher / Agnes
A Gangster's Kiss
Movie • 2024
Crassus
Dark Side
Movie • 2003
Vicki
Things Behind the Sun
Movie • 2001
Denise
Who's Your Daddy?
Movie • 2004
Heather McKay
The Adventures of Pollyanna
Movie • 1982
Pollyanna
Hennessy
Movie • 1975
Angie Hennessy
Speedway Junky
Movie • 1999
Donna
Best
Movie • 2000
Anna
Alfie Darling
Movie • 1975
Penny
Bullseye!
Movie • 1990
Sick Lady on Train
Kleptomania
Movie • 1995
Julie
The Tragedy of Richard III
Movie • 1983
Lady Margaret Plantagenet
The 90s: Ten Years That Changed the World
Movie • 2015
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Fall from Grace
Movie • 1994
Lady Deirdre Sebright
The Great Gatsby
Movie • 1974
Pamela Buchanan
Aladdin: The ITV Pantomime
Movie • 2000
Princess Jasmine
The Pebble and the Boy
Movie • 2021
Sonia
The Mystery of the Disappearing Schoolgirls
Movie • 1980
Daisy
Borley Rectory: The Awakening
Movie • 2026
Constance Bull
Quiet as a Nun
Movie • 1978
Tessa
A Scottish Christmas Secret
Movie • 2025
A Bear's Tail
TV • 2005
Helen Hennerson
Shooting Stars
TV • 1993
Self
Monkey Trousers
TV • 2005
Bo' Selecta!
TV • 2002
Self
Soccer AM
TV • 1995
Self
Holby City
TV • 1999
Faye Byrne
The Friday Night Project
TV • 2005
Self - Guest Host
Tales from the Crypt
TV • 1989
Bridget (segment "As Ye Sow")
TFI Friday
TV • 1996
Self
Emmerdale
TV • 1972
Sadie King
The Paul O'Grady Show
TV • 2004
Self - Guest
Hallmark Hall of Fame
TV • 1951
Emilie du Caillaud
Luna
TV • 1983
Alan Carr: Chatty Man
TV • 2009
Self
Tina & Bobby
TV • 2017
Betty Greene
Chris Moyles' Quiz Night
TV • 2009
Self
Bargain Hunt Famous Finds
TV • 2008
Must See TV
TV • 2005
OK! TV
TV • 2011
Would I Lie to You?
TV • 2007
Self
Who Do You Think You Are?
TV • 2004
Self
The Graham Norton Show
TV • 2007
Self
Diana
TV • 1984
Young Diana
Casualty
TV • 1986
Charlotte Leith-Jones
McDonald & Dodds
TV • 2020
Barbara Graham
The Last Don II
TV • 1998
Josie Cirolia
Murder in Mind
TV • 2001
Angela Stephenson
Screen One
TV • 1989
Hetty Sorrel
Richard Osman's House of Games
TV • 2017
Self - Contestant
Celebrity Juice
TV • 2008
Self
8 Out of 10 Cats
TV • 2005
Self
The Legend of King Arthur
TV • 1979
Morgan le Fay as a child
Lo + plus
TV • 1995
Self - Guest
Agatha Raisin
TV • 2016
Emma Comfrey
French & Saunders
TV • 1987
Self
Lahaye d'honneur
TV • 1987
Self - Eight Wonder
Le monde est à vous
TV • 1987
Self - Eight Wonder
Sacrée Soirée
TV • 1987
Self - Eight Wonder
Celebrity Big Brother
TV • 2001
Self
Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side
TV • 2011
Self
Dickens of London
TV • 1976
Georgina Hogarth
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
TV • 2021
Self - Panellist
The Charlotte Church Show
TV • 2006
Churchill's People
TV • 1974
Brewster child
Tales from the Crypt - Uncut
TV • 1992
Holby City
TV • 1999
Faye Morton
The Weakest Link
TV • 2021
Self - Contestant