My favourite photo
Ex-eastenders star Kellie, 36, recalls the day acting legend Dame Barbara Windsor made a special trip to meet her twins
Former Eastenders star Kellie Shirley shares a treasured snapshot
“MY son Louie is about two months old in this picture. He and his sister Pearl are three now. Barbara never liked coming south of the river, so coming to see me and the babies was a big deal. Barbara had a really calming effect on the twins. They were going mental before she arrived. She spent the whole visit holding Louie’s hand. It was just gorgeous.
I started going into labour on Barbara’s birthday, August 6, but the twins held on until my husband’s birthday three days later.
Barbara has been a massive part of my life, professionally and personally. I first appeared on Eastenders in 2006 but I actually met Barbara back in 2002. I worked for an events company while I studied at drama school. I was hired as a waitress to serve canapés at the soap awards. My table happened to be the Eastenders cast. I had a nice chat with Barbara. I was happy to see a familiar face when I started working on the soap. It’s very surreal walking on to a set like that. I watched the soap as a kid and suddenly it became a weird reality.
Barbara was a well-known face on the soap. She gave me pearls of wisdom and shared little tricks of the trade. I lucked out with having her close, I really did.
I used to beat myself up about my acting but Barbara would tell me to let it go, be better next time, believe in yourself. She was really good at putting things into perspective. The things you think are rubbish end up being good.
Barbara has been the voice of reason throughout my career. She’s had massive highs and lows. She told me that things can change in a heartbeat – it just takes one phone call.
When I left Eastenders I didn’t work for a little while. I started to wobble. I wondered if I was good enough. Barbara reminded me that she had 10 years of little work. She had big success in the Carry On movies and Eastenders was like a second chance. I find the resilience she has inspiring. I’ve been friends with her for over a decade. She says the most perfect things to me and she’s a lovely, generous lady. It’s tough to see how she’s living with dementia.
I’m running the Virgin Money London Marathon for Alzheimer’s research. When Barbara asks you to do something you can’t say no. In the UK, one person is diagnosed with dementia every three minutes. Of the top 10 causes of death, dementia is the only one that we can’t cure, prevent or even slow down. My mum works in nursing homes. I did, too. I’ve seen how it affects people. I want to fly the flag and get people to dig deep and sponsor us.
I’m running with some of my ex-cast members like Emma
Barton and Adam Woodyatt and Barbara’s husband, Scott Mitchell. We call ourselves Barbara’s Revolutionaries. We’re trying to raise over £100,000. Research will beat dementia but we need more funding to find a cure. I hope that within my children’s lifetime there will be a cure or a way to cope with the disease better.
A massive part of being an actor is remembering things. Your memories are such a big part of who you are. It’s scary. That’s why I feel for Barbara. She remembers so much about the past as clear as day yet she won’t remember my name. We still have funny moments. It’s not bleak all the time but it is hardcore. It’s a cruel disease that robs you of memories.
Any time I’m in town for an audition I’ll meet up with Barbara and Scott for a cup of tea. I’ve always done that. I’m training with Scott so we meet up on a Friday, run together and catch up. I find running so boring so chatting makes the time go faster.
I’m now in Call The Midwife and In The Long Run but Eastenders will always have a place in my heart. Anytime I get the twins to bed early I have a sneaky peek at what’s going on in Walford.”
Kellie is supporting the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK campaign Dementia Revolution. Sponsor her at uk.virginmoney giving.com/barbarasrevolutionaries. See dementiarevolution.org.