Essex Girls (& Boys)

Picture of Denise Van Outen
Basildon, Essex
Her most notable roles to date were as a presenter on The Big Breakfast, and as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago on both the West End and on Broadway.

Picture of Chantelle Houghton
Brentwood, Essex
Famous for appearing on Big Brother TV Show in UK.

Picture of Amanda Tapping
Rochford, Essex
She is best known for portraying Samantha Carter in Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. She is currently starring as Dr. Helen Magnus in the Sci Fi Channel series Sanctuary.

Picture of Vikki Blows

Romford, Essex
Vikki is a topless model who first appeared in The Daily Star and then The Sun. She also landed an acting role on the TV show "Footballers’ Wives".

Picture of Jodie Marsh
Brentwood, Essex
She has appeared topless in many tabloid newspapers and has appeared on her own reality show, Totally Jodie Marsh.

Picture of Victoria Beckham
Harlow, Essex
Songwriter, dancer, fashion designer, author, businesswoman, actress and model. Victoria rose to fame as Posh of the Spice Girls and remained the focus of attention following her marriage to David Beckham (footballer).

Picture of Helen Mirren
London
Famous actress of film & TV fame. Not an Essex Girl, but just made it into this list because she used to work in Southend on Sea, Essex, at "The Kursaal" amusement park as a "blagger" to attract customers on to rides.

Picture of Hermione Norris
Essex (TBC)
In 1996, she was cast in her breakout role of Karen Marsden in the comedy drama television series Cold Feet. She appeared in every episode of the series from 1998 to 2003 and was nominated for a British Comedy Award. From 2002 to 2005, she co-starred in the crime drama series Wire in the Blood and since 2005 has co-starred in the BBC One spy drama Spooks, as Ros Myers. Her role in Spooks won her the award for Best Actress at the 2008 ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards. Since 2007, she has co-starred in the ITV comedy drama Kingdom, opposite Stephen Fry.

Picture of Alison Moyet
Billericay, Essex
Her mainstream pop career began in 1981 when she formed the electropop duo Yazoo with former Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke. In the United States, the band became known as Yaz. In 1984, Moyet released her debut solo album Alf, a huge hit in Britain, reaching #1 in the album charts. Alf spawned three international hit singles, "Love Resurrection" (UK #10), "Invisible" (UK #21) and "All Cried Out" (UK #8).

Picture of Penny Lancaster
Chelmsford, Essex
Her relationship with Rod Stewart brought her fame, together with her modelling and fitness videos.

Picture of Sarah Miles
Ingatestone, Essex

Her debut was in 1962 as a precocious schoolgirl in Terms of Trial, opposite Laurence Olivier. The following years she became a popular actress of New Wave with her roles in Joseph Losey's The Servant and in Michelangelo Antonioni's Blow Up.

Picture of Denise Pearson
Romford, Essex
Best known for being the lead vocalist with the British pop/R&B group Five Star.

Picture of Kara Tointon
Basildon, Essex
Best known for playing Dawn Swann in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders.

Picture of Vicki Michelle
Chigwell, Essex
Essex's answer to Sophia Loren, Vikki is best known for her role in the BBC Comedy Allo Allo, and her sexy cry of 'Ohhh Rrrennnnnnn-ayyy!

Picture of Maggie Smith

Picture of Joan Sims
Laindon, Essex

Picture of Juliet Stevenson
Kelvedon, Essex,

Picture of Tina Cousins
Leigh on Sea, Essex

Picture of Dave Gahan
Epping, Essex
Lead singer for the British electronic band Depeche Mode, also an accomplished solo artist.

Picture of Martin Gore
Basildon, Essex
Founder of British electronic band Depeche Mode.

Picture of Rik Mayall

Harlow, Essex
Actor, writer and comedian. Rik is probably best known for his comedy partnerships with Adrian Edmondson.

Picture of Russell Brand
Grays, Essex
English comedian, actor, columnist and presenter of radio and television. Achieved mainstream fame in the UK for presenting Big Brother's Big Mouth, and for his radio show, among other television series and award ceremonies.

Picture of Joe Pasquale
Grays, Essex
Comedian famous for his very high-pitched voice, use of visual gags and being crowned "King of the Jungle" on the reality TV show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!.

Picture of Jamie Oliver
Grays, Essex
Best known for his growing list of food-focused television shows and his roles in campaigning against the use of processed foods in national schools and his campaign to change diets and cooking habits across the United Kingdom. Awarded MBE.

Picture of Dermot O'Leary
Colchester, Essex
Best known for presenting Big Brother's Little Brother and The X Factor.

Picture of Noel Edmonds
Ilford, Essex
A DJ for BBC Radio 1, then presenter of many light entertainment television programmes, including Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, Top of the Pops, The Late, Late Breakfast Show and Noel's House Party.

Picture of Damon Albarn
Colchester, Essex
Albarn came to prominence as the frontman and lyricist of Britpop rock band Blur, but is perhaps best known for his work with popular virtual band Gorillaz, under the alias "2D".

Picture of Keith Flint
Braintree, Essex
Famous for being the Dancer and Vocalist of the English electronic band The Prodigy

Picture of Richard Madeley
Romford, Essex
Best known for presenting This Morning, which he and his wife hosted from its inception in 1988 until 2001.

Picture of Scott Robinson
Basildon, Essex
Most famous for having been a member of the boy band Five.

Picture of Darren Day
Colchester, Essex
Actor, singer and television presenter, but most well known for his colourful personal life and 'Dirty Love Rat' image in the press.

Picture of

Romford, Essex
Gained fame playing football. Internationally, Lampard gained his first senior England cap in 1999 team and has played in Euro 2004 (scoring three goals in four games), the 2006 World Cup and the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

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Rainham, Essex