Barbara Windsor facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Dame Barbara Windsor DBE
Windsor in 2010
Born	Barbara Ann Deeks (1937-08-06)6 August 1937 London, England
Died	10 December 2020(2020-12-10) (aged 83) London, England
Resting place	Golders Green Crematorium
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1950–2017
Height	4 ft 10 in (147 cm)
Spouse(s)	Ronnie Knight (m. 1964; div. 1985) Stephen Hollings (m. 1986; div. 1995) Scott Mitchell (m. 2000)

Dame Barbara Windsor (born Barbara Ann Deeks; 6 August 1937 – 10 December 2020) was a much-loved English actress. She was famous for her roles in the funny Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the popular BBC One TV show EastEnders. She joined EastEnders in 1994 and won the British Soap Award for Best Actress in 1999. She left the show in 2016 when her character was written out.

Barbara started acting on stage when she was 13 years old in 1950. Her first film role was as a schoolgirl in The Belles of St. Trinian's (1954). She was nominated for a BAFTA Award for her acting in the film Sparrows Can't Sing (1963). She also received a Tony Award nomination for her role in the 1964 Broadway show Oh, What a Lovely War!. In 1972, she acted alongside Vanessa Redgrave in a play called The Threepenny Opera.

From 1964 to 1974, Barbara appeared in nine Carry On films. These included Carry On Spying (1964), Carry On Doctor (1967), and Carry On Camping (1969). She also helped present a Carry On compilation show called That's Carry On! in 1977. Other films she was in include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968). She also lent her voice to the character of Mallymkun, the Dormouse, in the films Alice in Wonderland (2010) and Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016).

Barbara Windsor was given the special title of Dame in 2016. This was to recognise her amazing work for charity and entertainment. She also received the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2010. In the same year, she was given the Freedom of the City of London.

Growing Up in London
Her Acting Journey
Later Career and Life
Personal Life
- Her Passing
Awards and Recognition
Images for kids
See also

Growing Up in London

Barbara Windsor was born Barbara Ann Deeks in Shoreditch, London, in 1937. She was the only child of John Deeks, a bus driver, and Rose, a dressmaker. Her family lived on Angela Street. Her great-grandmother's family came from Ireland to Great Britain to escape the Great Famine between 1846 and 1851.

When World War II began in 1939, Barbara's father went to war. Barbara and her mother moved to live with her mother's family in Stoke Newington. Barbara went to St Mary's Infants' School there.

At first, Barbara's mother did not want her to be evacuated from London. But after one of Barbara's school friends died in a bomb attack, her mother agreed. When she was six, Barbara was sent to Blackpool. She lived with a school friend and her parents. They sent Barbara to dancing school, which made her very interested in performing.

Barbara's mother later sent her to Madame Behenna's Juvenile Jollities. This was a drama school where she performed in charity shows and pantomimes. After the war, she passed her Eleven-plus exams with top marks. She won a scholarship to Our Lady's Catholic High School, Stamford Hill. However, she was asked to leave because she wanted time off to be in a pantomime.

Barbara then moved to the Aida Foster Theatre School in Golders Green. She also took speaking lessons. Her stage name "Windsor" was inspired by the Coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953. When Barbara was 16, her parents divorced. She had to speak in court, which was a difficult time for her.

Her Acting Journey

Barbara Windsor first appeared in a film as an extra in The Belles of St. Trinian's in 1954. She had several small, uncredited roles before her first credited appearance in Too Hot to Handle (1960). She then made her TV debut in Dreamer's Highway.

She also appeared in musical shows like Variety Parade and The Jack Jackson Show. Barbara became a regular singer at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho. She also performed at Winston's club with other famous entertainers.

Barbara joined Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East. She became well-known for her role in their play Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be. She also starred in Littlewood's film Sparrows Can't Sing (1963). For this, she was nominated for a Best British Film Actress award. She also appeared in comedy films like Crooks in Cloisters (1964) and San Ferry Ann (1965). Other roles included the thriller A Study in Terror (1965) and the fantasy film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968).

The Carry On Films

Barbara Windsor became very famous for her roles in nine Carry On films. These were popular British comedy movies. Her first Carry On film was Carry On Spying in 1964. Her last was Carry On Dick in 1974. She also appeared in several Carry On TV specials.

One of her most famous scenes was in Carry On Camping (1969). In this scene, her bikini top came off during outdoor exercises. It was a funny moment that became very memorable.

From 1973 to 1975, she performed with other Carry On actors in a show called Carry On London!. For many years, people strongly connected her with the Carry On films. This sometimes made it harder for her to get other types of roles later in her career.

Stage Performances

Barbara Windsor also had a successful career on stage. She performed on Broadway in Oh, What a Lovely War!. For this role, she was nominated for a Tony Award in 1965. She also appeared in many other plays. These included Lionel Bart's musical Twang!! (1965) and The Beggar's Opera (1967). She performed in 30 pantomimes between 1950 and 2011.

In 1970, she played the famous music hall star Marie Lloyd in a musical called Sing A Rude Song. In 1972, she was in The Threepenny Opera with Vanessa Redgrave. In 1975, she toured the UK, New Zealand, and South Africa with her own show, Carry On Barbara!. She also played Maria in Twelfth Night at the Chichester Festival Theatre.

In 1981, she starred in Joe Orton's play Entertaining Mr Sloane. She played this role again for a national tour in 1993.

Life in EastEnders

A waxwork of Barbara Windsor as Peggy Mitchell in Blackpool

When EastEnders started in 1985, the producers usually didn't cast very famous actors. However, by 1994, this rule was changed. Barbara Windsor was offered the role of Peggy Mitchell. Peggy was the strong-willed mother of popular characters Phil and Grant Mitchell.

For her role as Peggy, Barbara won the British Soap Award for Best Actress in 1999. She also received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

Barbara had to take a break from EastEnders between 2003 and 2005 due to illness. She returned full-time in 2005. In October 2009, Barbara announced she would be leaving her role as Peggy Mitchell. She wanted to spend more time with her husband. Her character left the show in September 2010 after a fire at the Queen Victoria pub.

Barbara returned for special guest appearances in 2013, 2014, and 2015. In November 2015, she secretly filmed her final return to EastEnders. She decided that her character, Peggy, should be killed off. This meant she would not be able to return to the show again. Her last episode aired on BBC One on 17 May 2016. After her death, an episode aired in 2022 where Peggy's son, Phil Mitchell, heard his mother's voice. This was created using old recordings of Barbara's voice.

Later Career and Life

In 2005, Barbara Windsor hosted two series of a BBC show called Disaster Masters. She also provided the voice of the Dormouse in Tim Burton's live-action film Alice in Wonderland (2010). She played in the pantomime Dick Whittington in Bristol in 2010/2011.

In 2010, Barbara became the "Queen of Bingo" for an online bingo site. She also appeared as herself in an episode of Come Fly with Me in 2011.

Windsor in 2009

From 2011 onwards, she often presented shows for BBC Radio 2. She also filled in for Elaine Paige on her Sunday music programme. Barbara voiced the Dormouse again in the film Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016).

In 2016, Barbara was invited to switch on the famous Blackpool Illuminations. In May 2017, Barbara appeared as herself in a TV film about her life called Babs. The film looked back at her childhood, her marriages, and her famous roles.

Personal Life

Barbara Windsor was married three times. She did not have any children.

Her first husband was Ronnie Knight. They were married from 1964 to 1985.
Her second husband was Stephen Hollings. They married in 1986 and divorced in 1995.
Her third husband was Scott Mitchell. They married in 2000.

Barbara was very good friends with fellow actress Anna Karen. They met while filming Carry On Camping. Anna Karen later played Peggy Mitchell's sister, Aunt Sal, in EastEnders.

Barbara was also friends with singer Amy Winehouse. In 2012, Barbara became a supporter of the Amy Winehouse Foundation. In 2014, she helped unveil a statue of Amy Winehouse in Camden Market.

Her Passing

Barbara Windsor passed away on 10 December 2020, at the age of 83. The next episode of EastEnders, shown on 11 December 2020, was dedicated to her memory.

Barbara's funeral took place on 8 January 2021. Her body was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium. Many of her friends and co-stars attended the service. However, the number of people was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Floral decorations on her coffin spelled out words like "The Dame" and "Saucy". Her funeral programme featured a famous photo of her from Carry On Camping.

Awards and Recognition

Barbara Windsor received many honours throughout her life. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2000. In the same year, she was the first person to be added to the BBC Hall of Fame.

In August 2010, she was given the Freedom of the City of London. In November 2010, she was honoured by the City of Westminster with a tree planting and plaque ceremony. She was also added to the Hackney Empire Walk of Fame in 2017.

In 2016, she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). This was a very high honour for her work in charity and entertainment. In November 2014, she was given an honorary doctorate from the University of East London.