Remember when Kathy “died” in 2006? We all cried. Then she came back in 2015 like a ghost in a sparkly cardigan. That was a huge moment, right?
Well, Gillian was 59 when she returned. Now she’s nearly a decade past that, and she’s still slinging drinks and giving Ian Beale stern looks. She’s proof that age is just a number—and a really good makeup team.
Inside EastEnders' Kathy Beale star's real life from co-star romance to
Let’s be honest, though: she looks fantastic. I’m not saying she’s found the fountain of youth, but she’s definitely at least visited it for a weekend.
How Does She Compare to Other Soap Legends?
Let’s put it in perspective. June Brown (Dot Cotton) was 91 when she left us. But Gillian? She’s a spring chicken compared to some. She’s younger than Corrie’s Ken Barlow (William Roache, who’s 92).
But here’s the twist: Gillian has been on EastEnders for over 40 years. She started in 1985, and she’s still here. That’s like being a fixture in your living room since you were a kid. No pressure, right?
She’s older than your mum—probably. But she’s also cooler than your mum. Sorry, Mum.
