Southend and south Essex have produced many actors starring in EastEnders over the years.
As the soap prepares to celebrate its milestone 40th anniversary in February 2025, we take a look at their early years and the stars' journeys to Albert Square.
DAVID WITTS
Former Southend High School for Boys pupil David Witts landed the role of Joey Branning in Eastenders in 2012.
He won the newcomer award at the National Television Awards in 2013 and his final scenes with the BBC One soap were aired on December 26 that year.
He also won “Sexiest Male” at the Inside Soap Awards and was nominated again for “Sexiest Male” at the British Soap Awards in 2013.
In early 2014 he starred as Link Larkin in a production of Hairspray at the Curve in Leicester.
He appeared in the pantomime Aladdin at the New Theatre, Hull over the festive period of 2014 and 2015.
In March 2015, it was announced that Witts would star in the new American TV series Recovery Road, as Craig, with the series beginning on January 25, 2016 on Freeform. However, the show was cancelled in May that year.
In May 2018, it was announced that Witts would making his West End debut in the hit musical Wicked, replacing Bradley Jaden as Fiyero from 23 July 2018. In March 2019, Witts appeared in an episode of the BBC daytime soap Doctors. Witts left Wicked on 20 July 2019 and was replaced by Alistair Brammer.
KIERSTON WAREING
Kierston Wareing grew up in Leigh and played Kirsty Branning in Eastenders from December 2012 until January 2014.
In her youth she did acting workshops at the Palace Theatre in Westcliff and also performed at Leigh Festival and Southend Festival.
Her first film role was the lead in Ken Loach's It's a Free World followed by a supporting role in Andrea Arnold's Fish Tank – which won the BAFTA award for ‘Best British Film’ and the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
She played the character Heather in the now hit show Top Boy and joined the cast of EastEnders in 2012, making her first appearance as Kirsty Branning in December 2012.
She left the show in January 2014.
Wareing also joined the cast of Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks in 2015 as new villain Ashley Davidson with her first episode airing in September 2015.
In a shock twist, Ashley was killed by the unknown Gloved Hand Killer as part of a ten-month long storyline which saw the unknown assailant kill various villagers. Her last appearance was aired in October 2015, during the 20th anniversary week of the show.
KELLIE BRIGHT
Actress Kellie Bright, who is from Great Wakering, has played Eastenders’ Linda Carter since 2013, joining the show alongside her on-screen husband Danny Dyer who played Mick.
She has run the show's Queen Victoria pub since joining, first with Danny Dyer until he left the show in Christmas 2022 and now with her mother, Elaine Peacock.
She won the 2015 British Soap Awards for Best Actress and Best Dramatic Performance for her portrayal of the character in the soap.
In 2015, the south Essex actress became runner-up in the 13th series of the BBC One show Strictly Come Dancing. Bright has also had main roles in Bad Girls and BBC radio programme The Archers, guest starred in Da Ali G Show and made an appearance in the film Ali G Indahouse.
Bright has made several guest appearances on British television programmes, her credits include Holby City, Casualty, the Catherine Tate Show and Vera. Bright appeared as Joan Trotter in the Only Fools and Horses prequel, Rock and Chips, from 2010 until 2011.
In 1992, Bright voiced the character of Beauty in the Bevanfield Films production of Beauty and the Beast. She has also voiced several video game characters, including the Hero of Brightwall in the game Fable III in 2010.
KARA TOINTON
Kara Tointon, who was brought up in Leigh by dad Ken and mum Carol, is well-known for her role as Dawn Swann in EastEnders.
She went to St Michael’s in Leigh and St Hilda’s in Westcliff. Tointon's debut in acting as Brigitta in the amateur dramatic society's version of The Sound of Music at the Cliffs Pavilion.
Her first paid job was in the panto Snow White, also at the Cliffs, aged 11, where she was one of the child dancers.
She made her first appearance on TV as a school friend of Sonia Fowler in EastEnders in 1994, before joining the cast in 2005 as Dawn. She played the role for four years and was a fan favourite until being written out, alongside Ricky Groves, in August 2009.
In 2010, Tointon was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing series 8, which she went on to win with her dancing partner Artem Chigvintsev.
MAISIE SMITH
Former Chalkwell Junior School pupil Maisie Smith, from Westcliff, shot to fame as a six-year-old playing cheeky EastEnders character Tiffany Dean - the youngest daughter of Bianca Jackson, played by Patsy Palmer.
Smith attended Belfairs Academy in Leigh and the Sandra Singer Stage School and also attended South Essex College, to study musical theatre.
She played the role of Tiffany from 2008 to 2014 and then in November 2016, she temporarily returned to the show in the role for a guest stint, before making a full-time return in January 2018 and leaving again in 2021.
In 2020, Maisie competed in the eighteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Gorka Márquez, and finished in second place alongside Hrvy and Janette Manrara and Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer.
In May 2022, it was announced she would be making her musical theatre debut in Strictly Ballroom: The Musical, playing Fran, which came to Cliffs Pavilion in a homecoming performance for Maisie.
She was also one of just four finalists to complete series four of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
RICKY CHAMP
Ricky Champ, from Southend, is best known for his role of Stuart Highway, Mick Carter’s childhood pal in EastEnders but his impressive acting CV also include the character Gatins in Game of Thrones season six, sitcoms Crims and Him & Her, plus appearance in movies such as the World’s End and Mortdecai.
In October 2019 it was announced Ricky had signed up for a Strictly special for BBC Children In Need, dancing with Luba Mushtuk. His others roles include Mark Burton in popular medical drama Casualty in 2012 and Barney Ford in well-known police drama The Bill in 2006.
Last year it was announced he had joined the West End play 2:22 A Ghost Story at the Apollo theatre.
DENISE VAN OUTEN
TV and radio star Denise Van Outen was born in Basildon and landed the role of Karin Smart in EastEnders in 2015. She played Phil Mitchell’s dodgy car dealer’s wife, and the new love of Max Branning.
She was a mysterious “blonde bombshell”, who sent sparks flying through the Albert Square as soon as she arrived.
The Essex girl's extensive CV covers a range of TV, radio, stage and voice over work.
She presented The Big Breakfast, played Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago both in the West End and on Broadway and finished as runner-up in the tenth series of the BBC One dancing show Strictly Come Dancing.
She was a judge on Any Dream Will Do in 2007, Born to Shine in 2011, and she had also been a judge on Ireland's Got Talent which ran for two seasons in 2018 and 2019. Van Outen also narrates the ITVBe reality television series The Only Way Is Essex.
At the age of seven, she began modelling for knitting patterns, and showed an early flair for performing. This resulted in her attending the Sylvia Young Theatre School.
In 2007, Van Outen co-presented Who Dares, Sings! with Ben Shephard and in 2008 she fronted Sky1's Hairspray: The School Musical. Van Outen guest presented This Morning in 2005, The Friday Night Project in 2006, The 5 O'Clock Show in 2010, Lorraine in 2010 and 2012 and Sunday Brunch in 2013.
She was married to Holby City actor, Lee Mead – from Eastwood – until 2013, who she shares 12-year-old daugther Betsy with.
JASMINE ARMFIELD
Jasmine Armfield, from Thundersley, had been gracing our screens in Eastenders as Bex Fowler, the daughter of veteran Albert Square favourites Sonia Jackson and Martin Fowler, from 2014 until 2020.
She attended the King John School in Thundersley and became a student at the Wickford's Pauline Quirke Academy for the Performing Arts when it opened in September 2010.
In 2017, she was nominated for Best Soap Actress at the TV Choice Awards.
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