Lucy Benjamin

Lucy Benjamin (born Lucy Jane Baker; 25 June 1970) is an English actress. After appearing in various television series including Close to Home (1989–1990), Press Gang (1989–1993) and Jupiter Moon (1990, 1996), she was cast in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Lisa Fowler in 1998, for which she received a nomination for Most Popular Actress at the 2001 National Television Awards.

Following her initial departure from the soap in 2003, she competed in The X Factor: Battle of the Stars (2006) which she won, as well as competing in I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (2009). She made guest returns to EastEnders in 2010 and 2017, while also appearing in series such as Casualty and Doctors. From 2019 to 2020, she reprised her role as Lisa on EastEnders for four months, before returning for another short stint in 2023.

Early life Benjamin was born on 25 June 1970 in Reading, Berkshire, as Lucy Jane Baker. While attending school in Sandhurst, she performed in school concerts; her parents were informed by one of her primary school teachers that she had drama talent and advised them to let her attend a nearby theatre school. From 1989 to 1990, she appeared in two series of LWT sitcom Close to Home, playing Paul Nicholas' teenage daughter Kate Shepherd. Also in 1990, she appeared in the British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB) Galaxy Channel soap opera Jupiter Moon.

From 1998 to 2003, Benjamin played Lisa Fowler in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. During her time on the programme, she was involved in one of the soap's most viewed storylines, known as "Who Shot Phil?" (2001). The storyline centred on the shooting of her on-screen lover Phil Mitchell, and who, out of the many potential candidates, was responsible. Her character was eventually revealed to be the shooter. In April 2006, the Daily Mirror reported that Benjamin was in talks with EastEnders about reprising the role of Lisa Fowler. Benjamin stated in an interview that all rumours of her returning to EastEnders were inaccurate.

In June 2006, Benjamin appeared on The X Factor: Battle of the Stars, which she won. She was mentored by judge Louis Walsh. She also appeared as Heather in Stephen Fry's drama Kingdom. In October 2006, Benjamin appeared in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors. In September 2008, she appeared in All Star Family Fortunes, winning £10,000 for her charity Rosie's Rainbow Fund. In 2009, she was a contestant in the ITV1 series I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!

In 2013, Benjamin starred as Velma Von Tussle in the UK tour of the West End stage show Hairspray. Between April and July 2017, Benjamin had a recurring role as Denise Ellisson in Casualty. Benjamin reprised her role as Lisa for a short stint in July 2017, part of on-screen daughter Louise Mitchell's (Tilly Keeper) bullying storyline.

In 2014 Benjamin appeared in the role of Maggie in the comedy series Detectorists.

On 27 May 2019, it was announced that Benjamin would be returning to EastEnders on a permanent basis. She returned on 2 September 2019, and departed in January 2020 alongside Keeper. In May 2021, she starred in another episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Jan Fisher. For her appearance in Doctors, she won the award for Acting Performance at the RTS Midlands Awards. The win marked her first award in her career. In 2022, she reprised her role of Jan in Doctors.

Personal life Benjamin married Richard Taggart, an oil businessman, at Babington House, Somerset, on 30 March 2006. The couple met during a flight to Dubai and became engaged three months later. Benjamin and Taggart now live in Gidea Park, Greater London.

In the first episode of The X Factor: Battle of the Stars on 31 May 2006, Sharon Osbourne accidentally revealed that Benjamin was pregnant. Benjamin smiled while host Kate Thornton commented: "I don't think you wanted that announced tonight, did you?" Benjamin gave birth by caesarean section to a daughter at Harold Wood Hospital in London on 22 November 2006. On 19 October 2010, she revealed that she was three months pregnant with her second child. In April 2011, she gave birth to a second daughter.

In May 2015, she claimed £326,000 for infringement of her privacy rights, although substantial she was awarded less than half that sum, £157,250 by Mr Justice Mann as part of an overall £1.2 million celebrity payout relating to the phone hacking scandal carried out by Mirror Group newspapers (Trinity Mirror), under her married name, Lucy Taggart.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1982 Beau Geste Young Claudia 2 episodes 1983 Doctor Who Nyssa Uncredited 1983 Spooky Amy Episode: "The Exorcism of Amy" 1985 Up the Elephant and Round the Castle Kate Episode: "And They Came Unto Jim" 1985 Me and My Girl Gemma Tindle Episode: "Picture of Harmony" 1987 The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole Sharon Botts Episode #1.2 1989 Star Trap Nancy Television film 1989–1990 Close to Home Kate Shepherd Main role 1989–1993 Press Gang Julie Craig Main role 1990, 1996 Jupiter Moon Fiona McBride Recurring role 1992 The Bill Michele Prout Episode: "Private Enterprise" 1994 Murder Most Horrid Katherine Episode: "A Severe Case of Death" 1994 Class Act Berryl Chapman Episode #1.1 1995 Bottom Nurse Episode: "Dough" 1996 The Bill Ingrid Episode: "Bits and Pieces" 1997 Staying Alive Zoe Marson Episode #2.5 1997 Dangerfield Audrey Bremner Episode: "And Lips That We Might Tell" 1998–2003, 2010, 2017, 2019–2020, 2023 EastEnders Lisa Fowler Regular role 2003 The Afternoon Play Amanda Episode: "The Real Arnie Griffin" 2004 Casualty Gina Taylor 2 episodes 2006 The X Factor: Battle of the Stars Herself Contestant 2006 Doctors Tracey Morrel Episode: "No Smoke" 2008 Kingdom Heather Episode #2.3 2009 Missing Sandra Taylor Episode #1.1 2009 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Herself Contestant 2012 Holby City Lois Earnshaw Episode: "To Absent Friends" 2014, 2017 Detectorists Maggie Recurring role 2015 New Tricks Lesley Carmichael Episode: "The Fame Game" 2015, 2017 Casualty Denise Ellisson Recurring role 2015 Doctors Gina Stewart Episode: "You Can Run" 2017, 2019 The Dumping Ground Ms. Bloomfield 2 episodes 2018 Eleven Cass Film 2021–2022 Doctors Jan Fisher Guest role 2024 Curfew Sue Ferguson Filming 2025 EastEnders: 40 Years on the Square Herself Interviewed Guest TBA Game of Two Halves Lynn Film

Stage Year Title Role Venue 1992-1993 Mother Goose Princess Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton 1993-1994 Jack and the Beanstalk Jack Orchard Theatre, Dartford 1994-1995 Dick Whittington Alice Fitzwarren Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe 2002-2003 Cinderella Faith Godmother Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells 2004-2005 Aladdin The Princess Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage 2005 Framed! Judy Theatre Royal, Norwich 2005-2006 Cinderella Fairy Godmother The Deco Theatre, Northampton 2007-2008 Dick Whittington Fairy Bowbells Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon 2008 The Pretender Agenda Various The New Players Theatre 2011-2012 Peter Pan Mrs. Darling Mayflower Theatre 2012-2013 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Wicked Queen The Anvil, Basingstoke 2013 Hairspray Velma Von Tussle UK Tour 2015 The Deadly Murder Camille Dargus Sondheim Theatre 2019 The Ruffian on the Stair Joyce Hope Theatre 2019-2020 Cinderella Fairy Godmother Central Theatre, Chatham 2021-2022 Cinderella Fairy Godmother Watersmeet Theatre, Rickmansworth 2022 Henry VI: Rebellion Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester Royal Shakespeare Company 2023 Cinderella Wicked Stepmother Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford 2024 Robin Hood Karen, the Sheriff of Nottingham Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford 2025 Emma Mrs Bates Rose Theatre Kingston

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2001 National Television Awards Most Popular Actress EastEnders 2021 RTS Midlands Awards Acting Performance Doctors