From acting with Elizabeth Taylor to having a number one hit, Patsy Kensit’s life in pictures
Since she first graced our TV screens, aged four, in an advert for Bird’s Eyes Peas, Patsy Kensit has had a long, varied and successful career. Adhering to the adage that variety is the spice of life, Patsy has mastered both the big and small screen – from Hollywood to Holby City – showcased her vocal chords (though she doesn’t rate her vocals and has dropped the mic for good), and become a firm fixture of popular culture.
She's also become a devoted mum to two sons, James and Lennon, earned herself an army of friends including and is now content living in London with her cat Bowie. Here, we take a look at the moments that have shaped Patricia Jude Francis Kensit…
On screen with Elizabeth Taylor, 1976
Having already earned her acting stripes aged six playing Mia Farrow’s daughter in The Great Gatsby, at the age of eight, Patsy starred alongside acting legends Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Fonda in The Blue Bird, in which she played an orphan embarking on a quest to find The Blue Bird of Happiness.
Becoming the Eighth Wonder, 1987
When her brother Jamie started his band, Eighth Wonder, 15-year-old Patsy begged to be a backing singer despite not being able “to sing for toffee”.
He finally said yes, and the band had Number One hits in Japan and Italy, before finding success in the UK with “I’m Not Scared”, a song written by the Pet Shop Boys. Shortly after, Patsy bowed out of rock and roll for good.
Lethally talented, 1989
Patsy headed to Hollywood again in 1989 for her role in Lethal Weapon 2, starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. She played Rika Van Den Haas, the ill-fated love interest of Gibson’s LAPD officer Martin Riggs. Describing the experience, Patsy noted that Gibson was a “very good kisser” and “she didn’t mind that at all”.
Down for the Dales, 2004
In 2004, Patsy was thrilled to be asked to join Leeds-based soap Emmerdale as Sadie King, who seduced and manipulated many a male villager.
During her two-year stint, she learned a lot from the “incredible” cast and crew and considers it her biggest career highlight as it proved her detractors – who didn’t know she’d been acting for decades – wrong. She says she would’ve stayed at the soap forever had she not needed to be in London for the kids.
Magic on the dancefloor, 2011
In 2010, Patsy and her “two left feet” sashayed onto the hallowed Strictly Come Dancing dancefloor. Partnered with the late Robin Windsor, the pair managed to get to Week 9 before eventually getting voted off by the judges in the dreaded dance off – losing to Ann Widdecombe and her Titanic themed Rumba. Despite bowing out of the competition, Patsy said it had been "the most beautiful experience" and joined the Live Tour in 2011.
Date with the Diary Room, 2015
Back in 2015, “huge fan” Patsy entered the iconic Celebrity Big Brother house along with famous housemates including TV personality Katie Price, columnist Katie Hopkins, reality star Calum Best, and presenters Keith Chegwin and Michelle Visage. While she was evicted on day 21, Patsy was delighted to come out of the experience unscathed.
Club cool, 2022
The Primrose Hill set were the coolest friendship group on the planet in the ‘90s. Comprising of Kate Moss, Sadie Frost, Jude Law, Noel and Liam Gallagher and Patsy – to name but a few – they partied their way around London and had a lot of fun.
In 2022, some of the ex-Primrose Hill royalty reunited to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
Mum’s the word, 2024
Patsy is mum to James, who she shares with Jim Kerr of Simple Minds, and Lennon (pictured), the son of Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher. While sad they’ve both flown the nest, she’s incredibly proud of the young men they’ve become with Burberry model Lennon going on the Oasis Live ’25 tour, and James working as a cameraman on various rock shows.
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