EASTENDERS fans have been floored after learning star Gillian Taylforth’s true age.

Gillian debuted as Kathy Beale in the BBC soap’s very first episode, which aired in

February 1985. Sign up for the EastEnders newsletter On August 14, the actress

celebrated her 69th birthday and has been praised for her age-defying looks. Taking to an EastEnders-dedicated online group, fans showered praise on Gillian, as one wrote: “Happy Birthday to Gillian Taylforth who is 69 today.” One reply read: “More like 39..!!!! Some women just never seem to age.. Gillian is one those fortunate Ladies!!! She’s great.” Another stated: “Aged really well”, as a fellow fan chimed in with: “Very pretty still today”.

Read more on EastEnders Her original Walford stint spanned from 1985 to 2000. During this tenure, Kathy featured in hard-hitting storylines exploring domestic violence, rape, teenage pregnancy and alcoholism among others. In 2006, fans thought the character met her end after supposedly being killed in a road accident in South Africa. However, almost a decade later, Kathy was revealed to be alive in one of the soap’s biggest twists. Her “demise” was actually an insurance scam concocted by controlling husband Gavin Sullivan (Paul Nicholas), who also faked his death.

Gillian appeared in several other shows during her time away from EastEnders. EastEnders releases a new Christmas teaser trailer featuring Kathy Beale Notably, she portrayed Sandy Roscoe in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks from 2013 to 2015. In recent episodes, the star has been off-screen while Kathy is in America visiting her imprisoned son Ben (Max Bowden). As fans recall, Ben was locked up earlier this year after committing credit card fraud during a trip to the US last year. Spoilers for next week reveal Kathy’s imminent return to Albert Square. Throughout its 20-year history, Strictly Come Dancing has welcomed several stars from BBC soap EastEnders. Here’s a look at how some of them did over the years. She reveals to ex-husband Phil (Steve McFadden) that their son is in a bad way. Her elder son, Ben’s half-brother Ian (Adam Woodyatt) stayed behind in America to secure a better lawyer. READ MORE SUN STORIES What will happen next to Kathy and her family?