Known as the giggle big busted blonde in the British comedy Carry On movies and later as the matriarchal figure in the long running successful UK soap opera Eastenders, while all the time maintaining an extremely colourful private life.

Barbara Windsor was born on August 6^th 1937 in Shoredidtch, London to John, a costermonger and Rose, a dressmaker. Being a high achiever in school and passing her 11 plus exam with flying colours her mother paid for her to take elocution lessons. This lead to an early career in British movies with her first appearance in The Belles of St Trinian’s in 1954 which starred Alastair Simm, George Cole and Joyce Grendfell.

Windsor came to prominence in the film production of Sparrows Can't Sing in 1963, achieving a BAFTA nomination for Best British Film Actress. 1964 saw her appearing in her first film comedy Crooks in Cloisters and in the sitcoms The Rag Trade with Reg Varney and Sheila Hancock and later as Millie in the 1969 British comedy Wild, Wild Women.

It was during the 1960’s that Barbara became romantically involved with one of the Kray twins, Reggie Kray, infamous for their gangster lifestyle in the East End of London.

But it was the Carry On films that really made Barbara a household name when she appeared in the first film, Carry On Spying with Kenneth Williams and Bernard Cribbins. She went on to appear in the last film in the series Carry On Dick with Sid James and, once again, Kenneth Williams in 1974. Her good time girl image and sexual innuendos endeared her to the public especially when her bikini top flew off during Carry On Camping. In all Barbara appeared in 10 Carry On films until she found their innocent naughtiness had turned too sexual for her liking.

She also starred on Broadway in the Theatre Workshop's Oh! What a Lovely War and received a 1965 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

Barbara Windsor was the recipient of the inaugural Rear of the Year title in 1976.

After leaving the Carry On films Windsor’s career began a gradual decline and she became best known for her infamous husband whom she married on 2nd March 1964, Ronnie Knight committing a bank robbery and fleeing to Spain.

In 1994 Windsor’s career was resurrected when she was offered the role of Peggy Mitchell in the series, Eastenders which saw her starring with Martine McCutcheon, Michelle Ryan, Mike Read and Wendy Richard. For this role she was rewarded in 1999 with Best Actress from the British Soap Awards.

In 2000, Barbara was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in the Queen's New Year's Honours list.

After a debilitating case of the Epstein-Barr virus saw her take a two year long absence from EastEnders from 2003 to 2005, with just a brief return for two episodes in 2004, she rejoined the cast on a full-time basis in the summer of 2005 and signed a one year contract.

Barbara has been married three times. Her first marriage to Ronnie Knight ended in January 1985 after which she went on to marry Stephen Hollings in 1986. The couple ran a pub in Buckinghamshire until they divorced in 1995. Barbara’s third husband who she remains married to is Scott Mitchell whom she married in 2000.

ABB