10 Totally True Facts About… Emma Barton (Eastenders’ Honey)
1 Emma Louise Barton was born on 26 July 1977 in Portsmouth, to parents David and Penelope. Emma attended Horndean Community School from 1989 to 1993, before going on to train at Guilford School of Acting, from where she graduated in 1998. Emma grew up alongside her sister, Maggie.
2 In 2005 Emma joined Eastenders as Honey Edwards – who was originally hired as part of a honeytrap by Patrick’s
suspicious wife Yolande Trueman! Settling into Walford, Honey has had a long on-off relationship with Billy Mitchell, and the pair eventually wed on their third attempt, after a series of disasters! The couple have two children, Janet who was diagnosed with Down’s syndrome and a son, William.
3 Honey left Walford in 2008 after she discovered Billy’s dodgy dealings, and took their children
with her. But she and the kids returned permanently in 2015, and Honey has since started a relationship with dentist Adam. Emma worked on the stage while away from the Square, but was thrilled when the soap’s bosses got in touch about a return. “There was interest from Eastenders – and I was like, ‘Yes, please!’”
4 In 2014 Emma took part in the TV
show Masterchef. “I absolutely loved it, but it was so frightening,” reveals the star. “I was the third out – I didn’t do well. I think it was the panic. Now I stick to roast dinners and pasta dishes.” Emma competed against celebs including ex-eastenders stars Todd Carty (Mark Fowler) and Alex Ferns (Trevor Morgan).
5 Emma has appeared in lots of musicals and sang on live TV during Children
In Need 2008. Her most cherished role was playing Roxie Hart in a UK tour of the musical Chicago in 2009. “It’s one of my all-time favourite musicals,” admits Emma. “But what really attracted me to the role of Roxie is that she is such a strong female character, and there isn’t a role quite like her in musical theatre.”
6 The actress shares a bond with her Albert Square cast mate Lorraine Stanley, who plays Karen Taylor. The pair met while they were both studying at a performing arts college in their hometown of Portsmouth. Emma is also great friends with former
Eastenders star Kellie
Shirley (aka Carly Wicks).
7 Emma was married to lawyer Nigel Stoat from 2002
to 2006. Since then, she’s romanced former
Eastenders actor Joel Beckett (Jake Moon), and has dated TV star Stephen Mulhern. Also finding a place in her heart is her Parson’s Russell Terrier: “My dream weekend would be with my dog Poppy and my family, having a roast dinner and a couple of bottles of wine, and going for walks.” 8 Actress Emma is close to her co-star, Jamie Borthwick (Jay Brown), who has admitted to fancying her! “Perry [who plays Billy] told me to chat Emma up,” explains Jamie. “I remember walking over to her and saying, ‘Alright darlin’, wow you smell nice’. It brought the house down, and we still laugh about it.” Emma has commented on co-star Jamie: “He’s like my baby brother. I’m so protective over him it’s unreal.”
9 Emma ran the 2019 London Marathon in aid of Dementia
Revolution. She took part alongside co-stars including Adam Woodyatt (Ian), Jake Wood (Max) and Tanya Franks (Rainie), raising money for the charity in honour of dementia sufferer and former cast mate Dame Barbara Windsor. Emma finished the run in six hours and 26 minutes, despite having a knee injury.
10 Emma is devoted to Carry On… films, and used Barbara Windsor as inspiration for her role in the stage comedy One Man, Two
Guvnors. “My character, Dolly, had some good one-liners,” recalls the star. “I tried to embrace my inner-barbara Windsor, and watched the Carry On… films as research. I’m a huge fan of slapstick and camp. Wendy Richard was my second mummy and it was great to work with her and
Barbara Windsor.”