Lucy Benjamin

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Lucy as Julie Craig in Press Gang

Lucy Benjamin (born 25 June 1970) is an English actress.

1 Career
2 Personal life
3 Television and film
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Career

Born Lucy Jane Baker in Reading, Berkshire, England, she took the stage name of Benjamin after her brother. Her first acting role was as a child actor in Doctor Who in 1983. In 1989 she starred in the hit children's television programme Press Gang, where she played Julie Craig. She left after the first series for another role, but returned for the fourth and final series until 1993, where her role was expanded somewhat. In 1995 she appeared in the Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall comedy Bottom. However, she is best known for her role as Lisa Fowler in the BBC soap opera EastEnders which she played from 1998 to 2004.

During her time on EastEnders, Benjamin was involved in one of the soap's most renowned and highly anticipated storylines, known as Who Shot Phil? (2001). The storyline centred around the shooting of her on-screen lover Phil Mitchell and who, out of the many potential candidates, actually performed the dastardly deed. Several suspects emerged and the audience was kept in the dark as to who the actual murderer was for many weeks. Benjamin's character was eventually unveiled as the shooter. However, despite her heavy involvement in the memorable plot, Benjamin was asked to leave the soap in 2002 as producers felt her character had run its course and there was no story options left for her at present.At the time she admitted that her axing from the show 'gutted' her and 'it felt like a punch to the stomach' She was asked back for a short period in 2003 however, to help with the oncoming exit of Steve McFadden, who was taking a hiatus from the hit soap.

Since leaving EastEnders, Benjamin has appeared in the BBC television programme The Afternoon Play, and the BBC hospital drama Casualty. She has also appeared in pantomimes across London as well as touring for 6 months in a play called Framed where she starred with Tom Craig from Coronation Street.

In April 2006 it was reported in The Daily Mirror that Benjamin is in talks with EastEnders about reprising the role of Lisa Fowler,benjamin however has confirmed in a recent interview[which can be seen on youtube] that all rumours of her returning to eastenders were rubbish and that the programme was not in contact with her.She did however not rule out a return saying 'never say never'.

In June 2006, Benjamin appeared on The X Factor: Battle of the Stars, where she was the outright winner.

In October 2006 Benjamin appeared in an episode of the BBC medial drama Doctors.

[edit] Personal life

Benjamin's offscreen relationship with EastEnders co-star Steve McFadden was much publicised in the British tabloid press during her time on the show. The relationship allegedly ended after McFadden was caught cheating on her with an ex-lover and the pair split in 2003.

Benjamin married oil businessman, Richard Taggart, at Babington House, Somerset in April 2006, wearing a white embroidered gown with a tiara and long veil. The couple met during a flight to Dubai and got engaged just three months later, confirmed with a diamond sparkler reported to have cost £8,000. OK! magazine also reports that the reception was a hit as Chas and Dave showed up to provide the party entertainment^[1]

Benjamin and Taggart have recently moved into a new house in Gidea Park, Essex and have just bought a kitten called, “Dolly”. The Kitten was sadly put to sleep not long after, as she was suffering from a blood disorder.^[2]

In the first episode of the The X Factor: Battle of the Stars show on 31 May 2006, Sharon Osbourne let slip that Benjamin is pregnant, and the child is due in the autumn. Evidently shocked at the revelation, Benjamin smiled while host Kate Thornton commented: "I don't think you wanted that announced tonight, did you?" Louis Walsh, who was mentoring Benjamin, always commented on the fact that she was pregnant and constantly praised her for her singing talents.^[3] Benjamin gave birth by caesarian section to a girl called Bessie in December 2006

She is a patron of the charity Rosie's Rainbow Fund.