Letitia Dean

Last updated

Letitia Dean
Letitia Dean.jpg
Dean in 2009 at Wendy Richard's funeral service
Born
Letitia Jane Dean [1]

(1967-11-14) 14 November 1967 (age 56)
OccupationActress
Years active1979–present
Known forRole of Sharon Watts in EastEnders
Television Grange Hill (1983–1984)
Brookside (1984)
EastEnders (1985–1995, 2001–2006, 2012–present)
The Hello Girls (1996–1998)
Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married (1999–2000)
Strictly Come Dancing
(2007)
Spouse(s)Jason Pethers
(m. 2002; sep. 2007)

Letitia Jane Dean (born 14 November 1967) is an English actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Sharon Watts in the BBC soap opera EastEnders . An original cast member from 1985 to 1995, she reprised the role from 2001 to 2006, and again from 2012 onwards. For the role, she was awarded the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2022.

Contents

Her other television roles include Grange Hill (1983–1984), Brookside (1984), The Hello Girls (1996–1998), and Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married (1999–2000). In 2007, she participated in the fifth series of the BBC dance competition Strictly Come Dancing , finishing fourth. On stage, she starred in the West End production of High School Musical in 2008, and in the UK touring production of Calendar Girls in 2010.

Early life

Dean was born in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire to parents Leslie (a tailor) and Ellie Dean, in a cottage rented on the estate of English romantic novelist Barbara Cartland, known as Camfield Place. [2] Dean has two older brothers. [3]

Dean's family moved to the north Buckinghamshire village of Stoke Goldington near Newport Pagnell when she was three years old. [3] She acquired a penchant for performing at an early age; both she and her older brother Stephen attended a local dance school, the Sylvia Mitchell School of Dance, and they also performed a dance act together on stage. [4] This later prompted Dean's successful application to attend the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts at ten years old, and later the Sylvia Young Theatre School in Marylebone, London. [5]

Career

Early career

Dean began performing professionally at the age of 12, when she was cast as Pepper in the musical Annie at London's Victoria Palace Theatre. [3] A trained singer, she played the lead female, Sandy, in the musical Grease , and she also sang with a rock group called The Young Uns, who toured the country supporting stage acts such as Bobby Davro and Tom O'Connor. [4] [6]

Between the ages of 13 and 17, Dean appeared in numerous television programmes, including: Love Story; [7] Tales Out Of School; [7] the Matthew Kelly sitcom Relative Strangers; [8] Grange Hill , playing a student named Lucinda Oliver; (credited as Titia Dean) [9] and the role of Dawn in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside . [10]

EastEnders

In 1984, Dean auditioned to play one of the original characters in BBC One's new soap opera, EastEnders ; she was selected for an interview on the strength of a photograph alone. [11] The creators of EastEnders, Tony Holland and Julia Smith, were looking for a "bouncy, attractive, oddly vulnerable young woman" to play the part of Sharon Watts, and out of the various applicants they had seen, they believed that only Dean had all of those qualities. [11] Dean lied about her roots to get the part. As the casting directors were only looking for real East End actors, she falsely claimed that she was born and brought up in Hackney, east London. [12] The lie paid off and she got the part, clinching the deal because of her laugh, which Holland and Smith described as "the dirtiest in the world!" [11] She debuted in the role in the show's first episode broadcast on 19 February 1985.

Dean's character Sharon, the troubled and spoilt adopted daughter of landlords "Dirty" Den (Leslie Grantham) and Angie Watts (Anita Dobson), has become one of the most popular and long-running characters in the serial. [13] She featured in one of the soap's most popular storylines in 1994, a love triangle featuring Sharon, her husband Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) and his brother Phil (Steve McFadden). The plot, nicknamed "Sharongate", gave the soap one of its highest episode ratings in October 1994 with over 25.3 million viewers. [14] A desire to pursue other acting roles prompted Dean to leave the soap in 1995.

During her first stint on EastEnders, she forayed into singing with her fellow EastEnders castmate, Paul Medford (who played Kelvin Carpenter). A song penned for the pair as part of a plotline in EastEnders (known as The Banned) prompted the BBC to release the song as a single. The song, "Something Outa Nothing", reached number 12 in the UK Singles Chart in November 1986. [15]

Six years following her initial exit, Dean was lured back to EastEnders by producer John Yorke, [16] reprising the role of Sharon from 2001 to 2006. In December 2004, Sunday Mirror reported that executive producer Kathleen Hutchison offered to double Dean's salary from £150,000 a year to £300,000 a year, to persuade her to remain in the show, making her one of the highest paid actresses in British soap. [17] Dean's character left the serial again in January 2006. Her exit was announced in August 2005 and an official EastEnders press report initially stated that she was only taking a scheduled break and was due back on set later in 2006; [18] however, this did not happen, and in June 2006 the BBC denied press speculation that there were any immediate plans for her to return to the series. [19]

In February 2012, producer Bryan Kirkwood announced that Dean would make a second return to EastEnders, having been absent for a period of six years. She made her return on 13 August 2012 after fleeing from her wedding to her fiancé John Hewland, with her son, Dennis Rickman Jr. and Phil Mitchell. She is one of three remaining original cast members, along with Gillian Taylforth and Adam Woodyatt.

Other work

Away from EastEnders Dean has had various theatre and television roles. She starred in two series of the BBC drama The Hello Girls , set in a Derby telephone exchange in the 1960s; medical dramas Casualty and Doctors ; the ITV police drama The Bill ; romantic comedy Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married , and the Channel 4 sitcom Drop the Dead Donkey as a weathergirl. She also starred in the 1995 film England, My England, which told the story of the musician and court composer Henry Purcell.

On stage, she starred as Nurse Fay in the Joe Orton comedy play, Loot , working alongside actor Michael Elphick. She also played a prostitute in the revival of Charles Dyer's 1960s play Rattle of a Simple Man at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham.

In 2007, Dean participated in the fifth series of the BBC celebrity dance contest, Strictly Come Dancing . She was partnered with the professional dancer, Darren Bennett. [20] Dean and Bennett were voted out in the quarter-finals (week 10), one week before the semi-final. Commenting on her experience, Dean said "It's been incredible. I've got to thank [Darren Bennett] for all his patience, hard work, all the injuries. It's been wonderful." [21] Dean was one of several celebrities who took part in the 2008 Strictly Come Dancing UK arena tour. The tour began in January 2008 and visited various venues throughout the UK, with all the proceeds going to the Children in Need appeal. [22]

In April 2008, it was announced that she would be starring in the stage show High School Musical as Ms Darbus. Dean commented, "It's a lovely opportunity for me [...] It's something completely different to anything I've ever done – doing an American accent and playing this kind of character." The production played at London's Hammersmith Apollo from June 2008 until 31 August 2008. [23]

In January 2009, Dean released a fitness DVD entitled Letitia Dean's Lean Routine. She joined the cast of the stage production of Calendar Girls the same year, playing Cora (Miss July).

Pantomimes

As well as television and theatre work, Dean regularly appears in seasonal pantomimes; she was reported to have a special clause in her EastEnders contract that permits her time off from filming to star in a pantomime each year. [17] In 2001, she starred in Snow White at the Orchard in Dartford; and in 2004, she starred in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Birmingham Hippodrome, alongside British comedians Joe Pasquale and Don Maclean. In 2006, Dean appeared as the wicked witch in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Deco, Northampton, taking over the role from her EastEnders co-star, Gillian Taylforth, who pulled out due to ill health. [24] December 2007 saw her appear as the Fairy godmother in Cinderella , at the Regent Theatre, Ipswich. In December 2008, she appeared as the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Grove Theatre in Dunstable, and she played the role again at the Ashcroft Theatre in Croydon in 2009. [25]

Awards

In 2004, Dean was nominated for Best Actress and Best Dramatic Performance at the British Soap Awards. [26] At the 2005 Inside Soap awards, she was presented with the award for outstanding achievement as homage to her work in EastEnders. She was also nominated in the category of Best Couple (shared with Nigel Harman). [27] In 2022, Dean won the Outstanding Achievement award at the British Soap Awards. [28]

Personal life

Growing up in the public eye was reportedly hard for Dean, and the constant media attention on her appearance was something she found especially tough. Dean says her self-confidence was damaged during this time, and this, as well as back pain, contributed to her decision to get a breast reduction in her teens. By her 30s, she considered herself to be a lot more comfortable in her own skin, and far more relaxed about public interest than she used to be as a teenager, commenting: "I have stopped pleasing people – and I'm calmer and more self assured than I've ever been." [29]

In 2001, Dean became engaged to jobbing actor Jason Pethers after knowing him for only a few months. [29] They married in September 2002 at All Saints' Church in Marylebone. Her close friend and EastEnders co-star, Susan Tully, was a bridesmaid at the wedding. Many of Dean's fellow castmates from EastEnders attended the wedding. [30] After five years of marriage, it was announced in 2007 that Dean and Pethers had separated because Pethers was reluctant to have children. [31]

Her older brother, Stephen J. Dean, is also a performer; they have appeared together on stage in several pantomimes. [32] As well as acting, Dean is a keen singer (with a mezzo-soprano voice) and tap dancer. [33] She currently[ when? ] lives in the Bedfordshire village of Wootton. [34]

In June 2022, when accepting an award at the British Soap Awards, she revealed that her father had died and she dedicated the award to him. [35]

Charity work

In 1997, Dean along with Susan Tully, were involved with the Third World charity, Plan International, and were sent to a remote village in Senegal to help highlight one of the organisation's aid projects, designed to bring running water to drought hit areas. [36]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983–1984 Grange Hill Lucinda OliverRecurring role
1984 Brookside Dawn2 episodes
1985–1995, 2001–2006, 2012–present EastEnders Sharon Watts Series regular
1993 Dimensions in Time Spin-off (guest)
1995 Casualty Hannah ChesneyEpisode: "Hit and Run"
England, My England Lady CastlemaineSupporting role
1996–1998 The Hello Girls Chris CrossSupporting role
1997 The Bill Amanda RonsonEpisode: "Playing with Fire"
1998 Drop the Dead Donkey Melissa CabrioletEpisode: "Beasts, Badgers and Bombshells"
1999–2000 Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married CharlotteRecurring Role
2020 EastEnders: Secrets from the Square Herself2 episodes
2023 EastEnders: The Six Herself2 episodes

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993-1994Snow White and the Seven DwarfsSnow White Royal & Derngate, Northampton
1995-1996Snow White and the Seven DwarfsSnow White Liverpool Empire
2004-2005 Jack and the Beanstalk Fairy Birmingham Hippodrome
2008-2009 Cinderella Fairy Godmother Regent Theatre, Ipswich
2009-2010Snow White and the Seven DwarfsWicked Queen Fairfield Halls, Croydon
2010 Calendar Girls CoraUK Tour

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonnie Langford</span> British actress (born 1964)

Bonita Melody Lysette Langford is an English actress, dancer and singer. She came to prominence as a child star in the 1970s, when she had a notable role in the TV series Just William.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessie Wallace</span> English actress (born 1971)

Karen Jane Wallace, known professionally as Jessie Wallace, is an English actress. She is known for portraying the role of Kat Slater on the BBC soap opera EastEnders. For her portrayal of Kat, she has won over twenty awards including Most Popular Newcomer at the National Television Awards and the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer in 2001, Most Popular Actress at the National Television Awards in 2003 and the British Soap Award for Best Actress in 2011. She also portrayed the role of Pat Phoenix in the BBC Four television film The Road to Coronation Street, for which she was nominated for the 2011 BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharon Watts</span> Fictional character from EastEnders

Sharon Watts is a fictional character from the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, played by Letitia Dean. Sharon is one of EastEnders' original characters conceptualised by creators Tony Holland and Julia Smith. She first appeared in the first episode broadcast on 19 February 1985 as the teenage adopted daughter of pub landlords Den and Angie Watts. Sharon became prominent in the 1990s due to her becoming the landlady of The Queen Victoria public house and her romantic pairings with brothers Grant and Phil Mitchell. In a storyline dubbed Sharongate, Sharon married Grant and then has an affair with Phil, climaxing in 1994 with Grant's discovery of the affair, which remains one of EastEnders' highest viewed episodes; the storyline was reinvented in 2018 when Sharon began an affair with a much younger Keanu Taylor. She was named the best EastEnders character of all time by the Daily Mirror in 2020. For her portrayal of Sharon, Dean won the award for "Outstanding Achievement" at the 2022 British Soap Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">June Brown</span> English actress (1927–2022)

June Muriel Brown was an English actress and author. She was best known for her role as Dot Cotton on the BBC soap opera EastEnders. In 2005, she won Best Actress at the Inside Soap Awards and received the Lifetime Achievement award at the 2005 British Soap Awards. Brown was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours for services to drama and to charity, and promoted to an OBE in the 2022 New Year Honours. In 2009, she was nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress, making her the second performer to receive a BAFTA nomination for their work in a soap opera, after Jean Alexander. In February 2020, at the age of 93, she announced that she had left EastEnders permanently.

Jill Halfpenny is an English actress. Her notable roles include Rebecca Hopkins in ITV soap opera Coronation Street (1999–2000), Kate Mitchell in BBC One soap opera EastEnders (2002–2005), Izzie Redpath in Waterloo Road (2006–2007), and Diane Manning in In the Club (2014–2016). She won the second series of the television dance contest Strictly Come Dancing in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anita Dobson</span> English actress and singer

Anita, Lady May, known as Anita Dobson, is an English stage, film and television actress, and singer. She is best known for her role from 1985 to 1988 as Angie Watts in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. In 1986, she reached number four in the UK Singles Chart with "Anyone Can Fall in Love", a song based on the theme music of EastEnders. She is married to Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Sir Brian May.

Susan Tully is an English actress, television producer, and television director.

Mario Angelo S Constantinou, professionally known as Matt Di Angelo, is a British actor and singer, best known for his role as Dean Wicks in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He also portrayed Sean Kennedy in the BBC drama series Hustle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nina Wadia</span> English actress (born 1968)

Nina Wadia is an English actress and comedian. She is known for portraying Zainab Masood in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, Aunty Noor in Citizen Khan, Mrs Hussein in the BBC comedy Still Open All Hours and for starring in the BBC Two sketch show Goodness Gracious Me.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Gayle</span> Musical artist

Michelle Patricia Gayle is a British singer, songwriter, actress and writer. Gayle had success as a soul and R&B singer in the 1990s, having achieved seven top 40 singles in the UK Singles Chart. These include "Sweetness" and "Do You Know". She released two top 40 albums through RCA Records but they parted company in 1997, and although Gayle has recorded other albums, they have not been released.

Louisa Claire Lytton is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Ruby Allen in EastEnders and Beth Green in The Bill. She also finished fourth in the fourth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2006 and represented the UK at the Eurovision Dance Contest 2008, finishing ninth. Her theatre credits include playing Betty Rizzo in the 2017 UK touring production of the musical Grease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanya Franks</span> English actress (born 1967)

Tanya Christine Franks is an English actress. She is best known for her role as Rainie Cross in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders.

Grant Mitchell (<i>EastEnders</i>) EastEnders character

Grant Mitchell is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders, played by Ross Kemp. He was introduced by producer Michael Ferguson to revamp the show, and originally served as one of the show's leading protagonists throughout the 1990s; with the character first appearing in 22 February 1990 and then departing on 25 October 1999 after Kemp had opted to leave the show. He then returned to the show on 24 October 2005 for a few weeks and returned again between March and June 2006. Kemp was persuaded to return to the role for brief stints during a period of heavy media criticism aimed at EastEnders. The return proved to be a ratings success. Kemp reprised the role of Grant for various guest stints in 2016, appearing in twelve episodes between 13 May and 9 September. An archived recording of his voice was heard on 25 January 2022. On 26 July 2022, it was announced that Grant would feature in a flashback episode focusing on the Mitchell family in 1979. Teddy Jay played the role of Grant for this special episode, which aired on 5 September 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gillian Taylforth</span> English actress (b. 1955)

Gillian Taylforth is an English actress. She is known for her role as Kathy Beale on the BBC soap opera EastEnders, as well as appearing as Jackie Pascoe on ITV's Footballers' Wives (2002–2006) and Sgt. Nikki Wright in ITV's The Bill (2006–2008). She has also appeared in film during her early career, has presented on ITV's Loose Women and appeared as a celebrity contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kara Tointon</span> English actress (b. 1983)

Kara Louise Tointon is an English actress, known for portraying the role of Dawn Swann in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. In 2010, she won the BBC competition series Strictly Come Dancing, and in 2015, she appeared as Maria in the ITV live production of The Sound of Music Live.

Lindsey Coulson is an English actress, known for her role as Carol Jackson in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. For this role, she won the 2000 British Soap Award for Best Dramatic Performance. Coulson is also well known for her roles in Clocking Off (2001), Murder Investigation Team (2003–2005), The Street (2006), as Sarah Tanner in Bulletproof (2018–2021) and as Penny Armstrong in The Bay (2019–2021). She has appeared in the films AKA (2003) and Funny Cow (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gemma Bissix</span> English actress (b. 1983)

Gemma Bissix is an English actress. She has been acting since the age of 9. Her most prominent roles have been in soap operas, as Clare Bates in EastEnders and Clare Devine in Hollyoaks ; she was awarded with two British Soap Awards for the latter role. Away from soap opera, Bissix has appeared in various television programmes and she competed in the 2009 series of Dancing on Ice. She has appeared in various pantomimes. Bissix returned to Hollyoaks in 2013.

Sophie Lawrence is an English actress and singer. She played the role of Diane Butcher in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as a regular cast member from 1988 to 1991, making subsequent guest appearances in 1993, 1994, 1997, 2008 and 2012. In 1991, Lawrence achieved a top 30 hit in the UK single's chart with her cover of Donna Summer's hit single, "Love's Unkind". Since 2001, she has been most active on stage in musical theatre and pantomime.

Elizabeth Power is an English actress. Power began her career in repertory theatre and went on to appear in several West End musicals. However, she is best known for her work on British television, in particular her role as Christine Hewitt in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders (1992–1993). She has since gone on to feature in various stage productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natalie Cassidy</span> English actress (1983– )

Natalie Ann Cassidy is an English actress. She has played Sonia Fowler in EastEnders since 1993, appeared in the BBC Two sitcom-horror Psychoville and was a contestant on the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing and the ninth series of Celebrity Big Brother.

References

  1. "DEAN, Letita Jane". BFI. Archived from the original on 23 March 2008.
  2. "Back To Square One", Hertfordshirelife.co.uk. URL last accessed on 20 December 2006.
  3. 1 2 3 "Second skin", The Guardian . URL last accessed on 10 October 2007.
  4. 1 2 Kingsley, Hilary (1990). The EastEnders Handbook . BBC books. ISBN   0-685-52957-6.
  5. "Sylvia Young Theatre School notable Alumni Archived 26 November 2005 at the Wayback Machine ", Sylviayoungtheatreschool.co.uk. URL last accessed on 20 December 2006.
  6. "Spotlight Archived 10 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine ", Letitia-Dean.co.uk. URL last accessed on 10 October 2007.
  7. 1 2 Lynch, Tony (1986). EastEnders Special . BBC books. ISBN   0-86227-384-6.
  8. "DEAN, Letitia filmography", BFI. URL last accessed on 10 October 2007.
  9. "Grange Hill cast list", museum.tv. URL last accessed on 20 December 2006.
  10. "Brookside facts", Brookesidesoapbox.co.uk. URL last accessed on 20 December 2006.
  11. 1 2 3 Smith, Julia; Holland, Tony (1987). EastEnders – The Inside Story . Book Club Associates. ISBN   0-563-20601-2.
  12. "Letitia Dean interview in Woman Archived 10 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine ", LetitiaDean.co.uk. URL last accessed on 20 December 2006.
  13. "EastEnders In Crisis: I CAN'T GO SHAR ON Archived 8 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine ", Sunday Mirror. URL last accessed on 6 October 2007.
  14. "Profiles: EastEnders Kemp and McFadden", BBC. URL last accessed on 18 September 2006.
  15. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 146. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  16. "Letitia Dean back in EastEnders", BBC. URL last accessed on 18 September 2006.
  17. 1 2 "ENDERS' PAY RISE TO LURE LETITIA Archived 8 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine ", Sunday Mirror. URL last accessed on 20 December 2006.
  18. "Dennis and Sharon quit EastEnders ", BBC. URL last accessed on 6 March 2008.
  19. "Who is returning to 'EastEnders'? Archived 7 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine ", Digital Spy. URL last accessed on 18 September 2006.
  20. "Letitia Dean joining new 'Strictly' series", Digital spy. URL last accessed on 30 August 2007.
  21. "Leititia Dean Voted Off Strictly Come Dancing", Digital spy. URL last accessed on 30 December 2007.
  22. "Letitia Dean joins 'Strictly' UK arena tour", Digital spy. URL last accessed on 30 December 2007.
  23. "High School Musical gets new star", BBC. URL last accessed on 26 April 2008.
  24. "EASTENDERS’ SHARON SAVES THE DAY!", Deco.co.uk. URL last accessed on 18 September 2006.
  25. "Star interview: Fairfield panto stars in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Archived 5 May 2013 at archive.today ", Surrey today. URL last accessed on 1 January 2010.
  26. "2004 British soap awards Archived 2 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine ", thecustard.Tv. URL last accessed on 18 September 2006.
  27. "EastEnders on top at soap awards", BBC. URL last accessed on 18 September 2006.
  28. Duke, Simon (11 June 2022). "Letitia Dean wins British Soap Awards Special Recognition trophy and breaks tragic news in speech". Evening Chronicle . Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  29. 1 2 "Letitia announces plans to wed Jason Pethers", Hello!. URL last accessed on 20 December 2006.
  30. "EastEnders' Dean weds", BBC. URL last accessed on 18 September 2006.
  31. "Letitia Dean hopes to get over break-up", Digital spy. URL last accessed on 23 September 2007.
  32. "Performance Diary", www.its-behind-you.com. URL last accessed on 10 October 2007.
  33. "BBC profiles – Letitia Dean", BBC. URL last accessed on 18 September 2006.
  34. "Letitia Dean on Secrets from the Square". YouTube. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  35. Duke, Simon (11 June 2022). "Letitia Dean wins British Soap Awards Special Recognition trophy and breaks tragic news in speech". Evening Chronicle . Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  36. "Life After Sharon Archived 10 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine ", LetitiaDean.co.uk. URL last accessed on 20 December 2006.