Showbiz

Stunned EastEnders fans are ‘only just realising’ Kathy Beale’s true age after digging out 40-year-old pic of Walford legend

Stunned EastEnders fans are ‘only just realising’ Kathy Beale’s true age after digging out 40-year-old pic of Walford legend

Stunned EastEnders fans are ‘only just realising’ Kathy Beale’s real age after digging out a 40-year-old picture of a Walford legend. 

The cafe owner has been portrayed by actress Gillian Taylforth on and off since 1985.

One fan recently took to Reddit to point out Kathy is the same age as her mother-in-law Lou Beale, when she first appeared on the Square in 1985.

They put a picture of both characters side by side to highlight their point, with the caption: ‘Isn’t it funny how people looked older back then? I think the hairstyles had a lot to do with it.’

Kathy is currently 75-years-old, but in real life Gillian is 69. 

But one fan pointed out: ‘Seems unfair to compare anyone to Gillian Taylforth. She clearly defies any and all conceptions of the ageing process.’

Stunned EastEnders fans are 'only just realising' Kathy Beale's real age after digging out 40-year-old pic of Walford legend

Stunned EastEnders fans are ‘only just realising’ Kathy Beale’s real age after digging out 40-year-old pic of Walford legend

The cafe owner has been portrayed by actress Gillian Taylforth on/off since 1985

 The cafe owner has been portrayed by actress Gillian Taylforth on/off since 1985

One fan recently took to Reddit to point out Kathy is the same age as her mother in law Lou Beale (played by Anna Wing) when she first appeared on the Square in 1985

One fan recently took to Reddit to point out Kathy is the same age as her mother in law Lou Beale (played by Anna Wing) when she first appeared on the Square in 1985

Another agreed: ‘She does! I think she looks better now than she did back in 85! Also isn’t Gillian younger than Kathy?’

A third chimed in: ‘Gillian is an absolute freak of nature. More beautiful than she was in the 80s.’ 

A fourth added: ‘I feel like not only have expectations of beauty changed, women don’t ‘have to’ age anymore and the fashion is just younger. I think it’s been a fairly quick change, even women in their 50s were depicted quite old back then (think dot was late 40s?)’ 

‘Hairstyles definitely play a big part, as well as clothes, modern advances in make up, better application techniques and of course good old amazing genes! Gillian is naturally blessed; the woman is just beautiful,’ a fifth said.

A sixth commented: ‘I think back in Lou’s day it was a harsh soap and that was it. If you were poor or working class anyways which she certainly was. Also smoking, drinking, poor diets, little exercise.’ 

Gillian first appeared on EastEnders in 1985. She played the role until 1998, then again between 1999 and 2000.  

The soap star returned to Walford in 2015 and has been a main character since.  

Gillian pictured with her late co-star Anna Wing with Bill Treacher, Wendy Richard, Gillian Taylforth, Peter Dean, Adam Woodyatt , Anna Wing and Susan Tully

Gillian pictured with her late co-star Anna Wing with Bill Treacher, Wendy Richard, Gillian Taylforth, Peter Dean, Adam Woodyatt , Anna Wing and Susan Tully

Read More Dan Osborne seen without his wedding ring as Jacqueline Jossa goes pottery painting with daughters article image

Gillian is one of the soap’s longest serving stars, but she has also appeared in various other shows over the years.

Some include Blankety Blank, Footballers’ Wives, Casualty, Hollyoaks and Missing.

She’s also starred in various others such as Celebrity Big Brother, Big Brother’s Bit on the Side, Strictly Come Dancing and This Morning. 

Meanwhile Anna played family matriarch Lou Beale on EastEnders between 1985 and 1988. 

Anna also landed roles in shows such as Doctor Who, The 14, The Bill, Casualty, and French and Saunders. 

The actress pᴀssed away aged 98 on July 7 2013.  

Related Posts

Paula Abdul, 62, looks youthful as she watches the Lakers at star-studded game in Los Angeles

Paula Abdul, 62, looks youthful as she watches the Lakers at star-studded game in Los Angeles

Paula Abdul cut a stylish figure as she attended the Lakers vs San Antonio Spurs basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on Monday. The American singer, 62,…

EXCLUSIVE
Sam Thompson holds ‘no hard feelings’ towards Louis Tomlinson amid his heartache over ex Zara McDermott moving on with the One Direction star

EXCLUSIVE Sam Thompson holds ‘no hard feelings’ towards Louis Tomlinson amid his heartache over ex Zara McDermott moving on with the One Direction star

Sam Thompson holds ‘no hard feelings’ towards Louis Tomlinson as his ex-girlfriend Zara McDermott moves on with the One Direction star. The Made In Chelsea star, 32, split…

Jessica Biel looks chic in black leather blazer as she is seen for the first time on set with her co-star John Cena as they shoot for latest film Matchbox

Jessica Biel looks chic in black leather blazer as she is seen for the first time on set with her co-star John Cena as they shoot for latest film Matchbox

Jessica Biel looked effortlessly stylish in a black leather blazer as she was seen on set for the first time for her latest film Matchbox.  The actress, 43,…

Amy Childs showcases her two-stone weight loss in black jumpsuit alongside PVC-clad Sophie Kasaei as they filmed new series of TOWIE

Amy Childs showcases her two-stone weight loss in black jumpsuit alongside PVC-clad Sophie Kasaei as they filmed new series of TOWIE

Amy Childs showcased her two-stone weight loss as she filmed a new episode of TOWIE alongside Sophie Kasaei and Dan Edgar on Monday.  The reality star, 34, looked…

Adolescence star Stephen Graham cuts a casual figure as he leaves BBC Breakfast in Manchester – after detailing learning difficulty struggle

Adolescence star Stephen Graham cuts a casual figure as he leaves BBC Breakfast in Manchester – after detailing learning difficulty struggle

Stephen Graham cut a casual figure as he departed BBC Breakfast’s studios in Manchester on Tuesday, after lifting the lid on his struggle with dyslexia. The British actor,…

Maura Higgins looks incredible in new Oh Polly video as she gives an update on what she’s up to next and attempts to move on from the Danny Jones ‘drunken kiss’ scandal

Maura Higgins looks incredible in new Oh Polly video as she gives an update on what she’s up to next and attempts to move on from the Danny Jones ‘drunken kiss’ scandal

Maura Higgins looked incredible in her latest promotional video for Oh Polly as she gave fans an update on what she’s up to next and continues to attempt to…