EastEnders icon Kathy Beale, portrayed by Gillian Taylforth, has been a staple of Albert Square since the soap's inaugural episode in February 1985. In the early days, Kathy was wed to Pete Beale (Peter Dean), twin brother to Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard), and mother to the late Martin Fowler (James Bye).

After a failed marriage to Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), Kathy left the Square in 1998 for South Africa with her son Ben and new husband Gavin Sullivan (Paul Nicholas). She returned briefly in 1999 before leaving again on 6 January 2000.

Years later, her son Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) was devastated to hear she'd died in a car crash - which was a complete lie. In 2015, Kathy dramatically returned to Walford and has remained a fan favourite.

Recently, Kathy was involved in covering up Keanu Taylor's (Danny Walters) death and attempted to kill Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) with a snow shovel on Christmas Day. Actress Gillian Taylforth has brought Kathy Beale to life for decades, so let's take a peek at her life off-screen.

Kathy's age is often discussed among EastEnders fans on social media, thanks to Gillian's stunning blonde hair and youthful appearance, reports Plymouth Live.

In September 2022, the soap honoured Queen Elizabeth II after her passing. During a heartfelt conversation with Denise Fox (Dianne Parish) and Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), Kathy revealed she was 73, making her 75 now.