Trivia

Her brother, psychotherapist Harry Harris, is married to actress Lindsey Coulson who played her mother in EastEnders (1985).

Her stage name, Patsy Palmer, is actually her real-life mother's name.

Is best friends with her EastEnders (1985) co-star Sid Owen.

Was in attendance at the wedding of her EastEnders (1985) co-star Samantha Womack to Mark Womack (17 May 2009).

Is the godmother of her former EastEnders (1985) co-star Natalie Cassidy's daughter Eliza Beatrice Cotrell.

Her famous red hair was passed down to her from her great-grandfather, whilst the rest of her family members have either brown or auburn hair.

Is a close friend of EastEnders (1985) co-star Barbara Windsor, referring to her as her "second mother".

As of 2020 she is the 10th-longest serving actress on the history of EastEnders (1985) (tied with Gretchen Franklin, Lacey Turner, Lorna Fitzgerald and Shona McGarty, and behind only June Brown, Pam St. Clement, Letitia Dean, Wendy Richard, a tied Gillian Taylforth and Natalie Cassidy, a tied Barbara Windsor and Laila Morse, Gillian Wright, a tied Diane Parish and Linda Henry, and Jessie Wallace), having played the character Bianca Butcher for a total of 12 years (initially from 1993 until 1999, then from 2008 until 2014, and briefly in 2019).

Was replaced by Tamzin Outhwaite in the lead role of Sgt. Jo McDonagh in Red Cap (2003) before production began.

Named her daughter Emilia in honour of her father-in-law Emilio, who died just months before his granddaughter's birth.

Revealed that she had suffered a miscarriage at 9 weeks pregnant in October 2011 (4 December 2011).

Renewed her wedding vows to husband Richie Merkell on a Caribbean island with just her 4 children present (23 April 2012).

In 1987 she did a Clearasil commercial.

Competed in the 15th season of Dancing on Ice (2006) in 2023, partnered with Matt Evers, finishing 8th out of 11 celebrities.

Was named "Julie Anne" in honour of her mother's friend Julie and her mother's middle name Ann.

Returned to work 6 months after giving birth to her daughter Emilia in order to begin filming Ricky and Bianca (2002).

Is the youngest of 3 siblings. She has 2 older brothers called Harry (born 1964) and Albert (born 1966).

Attended the Anna Scher Stage School, where other future EastEnders (1985) actors such as Gillian Taylforth, Susan Tully, Sid Owen, James Alexandrou, Natalie Cassidy, Brooke Kinsella and Joe Swash attended.

Made her West End stage debut in the production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in 1978 at the age of 6.

Won an award at the London Festival of Plays for a play she had written about prostitution in 1984 at the age of 12.

Attended Haggerston School for Girls in Hackney (1983-1988).

Left school with 4 GCSEs: English, English Literature, Drama and Art.

Her paternal grandfather Albert Harris died before she was born. Her maternal grandmother Norah Palmer died in 1986 when she was 14. Her paternal grandmother May Harris died in 1987 when she was 15, and her maternal grandfather Harry Palmer died in 1996 when she was 24.

Had her appendix removed (1996).

Her EastEnders (1985) character Bianca Jackson became the 9th woman on the soap opera to give birth. Bianca had a son Liam (played by Nathaniel Gleed and then James Forde), born on 25 December 1998.

Is one of 7 EastEnders (1985) actresses to have won the Best Actress Award at the British Soap Awards; the others are Barbara Windsor, Natalie Cassidy, Kacey Ainsworth, Lacey Turner, Jessie Wallace and Kellie Bright.

Ranked #16 in the 100 Greatest EastEnders (1985) Characters of All Time for her performance as Bianca Butcher (2010).

Was in attendance at the wedding of her EastEnders (1985) co-star Scott Maslen to Estelle Rubio (6 September 2008).

Was in attendance at the funeral of her former EastEnders (1985) co-star Wendy Richard (9 March 2009).

Launched tanning products from her new business Palmer-Cutler (Autumn 2003).

Appeared in the 3rd series of Strictly Come Dancing (2004) with Anton du Beke as her dance partner. She finished 5th out of 12 contestants (2005).

Was pregnant with her son Charley during the filming of Clarissa (1991).

Released her autobiography, All of Me (April 2007).

Her life-long friend Nicole was bridesmaid at her wedding to Nick Love, whilst her EastEnders (1985) co-stars Sid Owen, Martine McCutcheon and Richard Driscoll were also in attendance.

Gave birth to her 1st child at age 19, a son Charley Palmer Rothwell on 9 February 1992. Child's father is her ex-boyfriend, Alfie Rothwell.

Is one of 20 EastEnders (1985) actors to compete in Strictly Come Dancing (2004). The others, in chronological order, are Christopher Parker (Spencer Moon), Jill Halfpenny (Kate Mitchell), Louisa Lytton (Ruby Allen), Letitia Dean (Sharon Rickman), Matt Di Angelo (Deano Wicks), Phil Daniels (Kevin Wicks), Gillian Taylforth (Kathy Mitchell), Jessie Wallace (Kat Moon), Zöe Lucker (Vanessa Gold), Ricky Groves (Garry Hobbs), Natalie Cassidy (Sonia Fowler), Jimi Mistry (Fred Fonseca), Scott Maslen (Jack Branning), Kara Tointon (Dawn Swann), Anita Dobson (Angie Watts), Sid Owen (Ricky Butcher), Jake Wood (Max Branning), Kellie Bright (Linda Carter) and Tameka Empson (Kim Fox-Hubbard).

Returned to work 15 months after giving birth to her son Charley in order to film an episode of The Bill (1984); Charley played her character's baby.

Gave birth to her 2nd child at age 28, a son Fenton Merkell on 13 June 2000. Child's father is her fiancé [now 2nd husband], Richie Merkell.

Named her son Fenton in honour of her close paternal cousin Fenton.

Returned to work 3 months after giving birth to her son Fenton in order to begin filming Do or Die (2001).

Gave birth to her 3rd child at age 29, a daughter Emilia Merkell on 7 July 2001. Child's father is her 2nd husband, Richie Merkell.

Her father was born in Limerick, Ireland.

Gave birth to her 4th child at age 38, a son Bertie Merkell on 8 December 2010. Child's father is her 2nd husband, Richie Merkell.

Was 7 months pregnant with her son Bertie when she took maternity leave from filming EastEnders (1985).

Returned to work 10 months after giving birth to her son Bertie to resume filming EastEnders (1985).

Delivered her son Charley naturally and her children Fenton, Emilia and Bertie via Caesarean section, having suffered from Vassa Parevia during 2 of her pregnancies. Whilst Charley and Emilia were born on schedule, Fenton was 8 weeks premature and Bertie was 7 weeks premature.

Her favourite actress is Julie Walters.

Ranked #16 in The 100 Greatest EastEnders (1985) Characters of All Time for her performance as Bianca Butcher (2015).