Pint-sized star with a huge personality

Famed for her portrayal of no-nonsense pub landlady Peggy Mitchell and “good time girls” in the Carry On films, Dame Barbara Windsor has become something of a national treasure.

A legend of British showbusiness for more than six decades, the now 80-year-old captured hearts with her towering blonde beehive and a personality that exceeds her tiny 4ft 10in frame.

Born as Barbara Ann Deeks on August 6 1937, in Shoreditch, London, Dame Barbara was destined for big things from a very early age.

She first dazzled directors at the age of six, and made her stage debut when she was 13.

By 1953 she had settled on a stage name, Windsor.

Roles in movies such as The Belles of St Trinian’s and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang followed, before her real breakthrough came with roles in nine Carry On films.

Between 1973 to 1975 she appeared in the West End revue Carry On London! and famously had an affair with co-star Sid James.

By now firmly in the public eye, she starred in several Broadway shows, and even toured with her own show, Carry On Barbara, in 1975.

But it was not until nearly two decades later when she scooped the role for which she would latterly become so well-known.

Appearing in her first EastEnders episode as the battleaxe Peggy Mitchell in 1994, the actress soon became synonymous with her legendary catchphrase: “Get outta my pub!”.

Sixteen years later she left Albert Square, and her character was killed off in 2016.

She has been married three times and wed her current husband, Scott Mitchell, in 2000.