Polly Perkins (born Gillian Nessie Arnold, 31 May 1943) is a British actress, singer and writer. Perkins rose to fame in the 1960s as a popstar, going on to regularly appear in theatre and

cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, casino, hotel, restaurant, or nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or drinking, ...

throughout the UK. She is known for playing Rose Cotton, the half-sister of Dot Cotton (

June Brown June Muriel Brown (16 February 1927 – 3 April 2022) was an English actress and author. She was best known for her role as Dot Cotton on the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' (1985–1993; 1997–2020). In 2005, she won Best Actress at the Inside ...

), in the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

soap opera ''

EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a British television soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the East End of London, the ...

'' between 2011 and 2012.

Early and personal life

Perkins was born Gillian Nessie Arnold to theatrical parents Dickie and Mitzi, who both had a successful career performing a cabaret/vaudeville act. Dickie's second wife, Dottie Arnold, was also a successful variety performer. Perkins has two children, singer songwriter Tim Arnold and film producer/director Toby Tobias.

Career

Perkins started her career performing at the Windmill Theatre in

Soho SoHo, short for "South of Houston Street, Houston Street", is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Since the 1970s, the neighborhood has been the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, art installations such as The Wall ...

. During the 1960s, Perkins was a teen pop star, a

thespian and the first compere of the cult TV show ''

Ready Steady Go! ''Ready Steady Go!'' (or ''RSG!'') was a British rock/pop music television programme broadcast every Friday evening from 9 August 1963 until 23 December 1966. It was conceived by Elkan Allan, head of Rediffusion TV. Allan wanted a light ente ...

''. She starred in stage musicals as diverse as '' Salad Days'' and '' Let My People Come'', and appeared in episodes of ''

Minder A minder is the person assigned to guide or escort a visitor, or to provide protection to somebody, or to otherwise assist or take care of something, i.e. a person who " minds". Government-appointed persons to accompany foreign visitors are of ...

'', '' The Sweeney'', Rules of Justice and ''Nanny''. Perkins was the leading lady in many West End cabaret clubs including The Latin Quarter, Blue Angel, The Celebrite, The Gaslight, The Directors Lodge, The Gargoyle, The Piano Bar and Madame Jojo's. She also ran and performed in her own club "Polly's Candlelight" in Mayfair from 1977-78. Perkins was cast as Trish Valentine, a washed-up

nightclub singer A nightclub act is a production, usually of nightclub music or comedy, designed for performance at a nightclub, a type of drinking establishment, by a nightclub performer such as a nightclub singer or nightclub dancer, whose performance may ...

, in the BBC soap opera '' Eldorado'' from 1992 to 1993. In 2011, she returned to the stage in the debut performance of songs from her son's new musical '' Secrets of Soho'' at The Phoenix Artist Club. In May 2011, it was announced by that Perkins would be joining the cast of BBC soap opera ''

'' as

Rose A rose is either a woody perennial plant, perennial flowering plant of the genus ''Rosa'' (), in the family Rosaceae (), or the flower it bears. There are over three hundred Rose species, species and Garden roses, tens of thousands of cultivar ...

, the estranged half-sister of Dot Branning. Speaking of her casting, Perkins said "I am thrilled to be joining the cast of ''EastEnders'', the show is a real British institution with an extraordinary creative team. I'm really looking forward to working with June again, who I have been friends with for over 30 years."

Filmography

Television

*''BBC Sunday Night Play-She's A Free Country'' *'' The Colony'' *'' Menace'' *'' The Sweeney'' *''Flickers'' *''Rules of Justice'' *''

Nanny A nanny is a person who provides child care. Typically, this care is given within the children's family setting. Throughout history, nannies were usually servants in large households and reported directly to the lady of the house. Today, modern ...

'' *''Play For Today-Wayne And Albert'' *'' Eldorado'' *''

'' (2011–12)

Stage

*'' Salad Days'' *'' Let My People Come'' *''Blood Brothers (Salon Varietés Production)''

Film

*'' Take It or Leave It'' *''The Mumbo Jumbo''

Discography

Albums

*''Pop Lore According to the Academy'' (1969) - Reissued on CD and is available digitally. *''Liberated Woman'' (1973) *''Polly'' (1977)

Singles

*''I Reckon You'' (1963) *''Sweet As Honey'' (1963) *''Young Lover'' (1964) *''I Went By Your House Today'' (1964) *''Munching The Candy'' (1969) *''Coochie Coo'' (1973)

Bibliography

*''Songs for the Liberated Woman'' (1973) *''Far Too Dainty'' (2003)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Perkins, Polly 1943 births Living people English television actresses English women singers English film actresses English stage actresses Actresses from London