July 6th 2024.
Did you know that Jessie Wallace is not actually her real name? It's true! If you mentioned the name Jessie Wallace to any EastEnders fan, they would immediately know who you were talking about. After all, the name Jessie Wallace has become synonymous with the fierce and bold character Kat Slater, known for her love of animal print. But what if we told you that this iconic actress was actually using a stage name?
It's not uncommon for soap stars to use a different name for their on-screen persona, and sometimes the change can be quite drastic. For example, Georgia Taylor, who has played Toyah Battersby on Coronation Street since 1997, is actually named Claire Jackson. Her co-stars Simon Gregson and Jane Danson have also made slight alterations to their birth names, with Simon Gregory and Jane Dawson respectively.
Last year, Jessie took to Instagram to share a story from a friend that revealed her former name. The post included a photo from 1985, featuring Jessie smiling alongside three friends. The caption described the experience as a "very random day being in The Guardian newspaper," to which Jessie added, "trippy day" with a laughing emoji. The article identified her by her birth name, Karen Wallis.
Of course, viewers of EastEnders know her best as Jessie Wallace, as she has played the beloved character of Kat since 2000. Her iconic scenes, such as when Kat revealed she was the mother of Zoe Slater, have solidified her status as a household name and have earned her numerous awards over the years.
In a recent Instagram post, Jessie proudly showed off her collection of accolades, jokingly referring to it as "polishing the silver." Her fellow EastEnders stars were quick to praise her, with Natalie Cassidy (who plays Sonia Fowler) commenting, "You should show off because you are AMAZING." Kacey Ainsworth (Little Mo Slater) teased her about needing "scaffolding for that groaning sideboard" to hold all her awards.
Fans have recently been treated to a trip down memory lane as Alfie Moon, played by Shane Richie, tried to deny his feelings for soulmate Kat. Despite the best efforts of their family members to set them up, the pair continue to insist that they are just friends. However, their relationship will be put to the test as they come together to parent their eldest son Tommy Moon in upcoming scenes, when he gets involved in petty crime.
Outside of the soap world, Jessie recently underwent surgery on her foot after years of excruciating pain. She shared a photo on Instagram of her bandaged foot post-operation and expressed her gratitude to the hospital for her "Silastic Arthroplasty." She added, "After years of excruciating pain, I am FREE!" This surgical procedure replaces some of the joints in her feet with an artificial joint.
This article was first published on April 26, 2024. If you have any soap or TV stories, videos, or pictures, please email us - we would love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage.
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