Patsy Palmer Biography: Children, Height, Age, Husband, Net Worth, Parents, Siblings, Movies & TV Shows

Julie Anne Merkell also known as Patsy Palmer is a seasoned English actress, DJ, and entrepreneur, celebrated for her dynamic portrayal of Bianca Jackson in the BBC soap EastEnders.

With a career spanning decades in television, fitness ventures, and music, she has become a prominent figure in British entertainment, blending on-screen charisma with off-screen wellness advocacy.

Profile

• Full Name: Julie Anne Merkell
• Stage Name: Patsy Palmer
• Born: May 26, 1972
• Age: 53 years old
• Birthplace: Bethnal Green, London, England
• Nationality: British
• Occupation: Actress, DJ, and Entrepreneur
• Height: 5 feet 6 inches
• Parents: Albert Harris and Patricia Harris
• Siblings: Four
• Spouse: Richard Merkell
• Children: Four
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: £9.3 million GBP

Early Life and Education

Patsy Palmer is a seasoned English actress, DJ, and entrepreneur. She was born on May 26, 1972, in Bethnal Green, London, to Albert Harris, of Irish descent, and Patricia Harris.

After her parents’ separation when she was eight, her mother raised her alongside two elder brothers, Albert and Harry, plus half-siblings Georgia and Berty, instilling resilience in their working-class home.

Schooling came at Globe Primary and Haggerston Girls Secondary, where bullying pushed her toward acting as refuge.

Career

Patsy Palmer gained early notice with a 1984 debut in The Gentle Touch, followed by her role as Natasha in Grange Hill from 1985 to 1987.

Breakthrough arrived in 1993 as fiery Bianca Jackson on EastEnders, a character she has reprised across stints until 2025, earning a British Soap Award for Best Actress in 2000 and Best Comedy Performance in 2025.

Beyond soaps, she shone in The Catherine Tate Show, competed on Strictly Come Dancing (fifth place, 2005), The Masked Singer (2020), and Dancing on Ice (2023), and entered Celebrity Big Brother in 2025.

As a DJ since 2012, she tours clubs; her entrepreneurial side includes fitness DVDs like The Ibiza Workout (2002) and a beauty line, Palmer Cutler Cosmetics, launched in 2003.

Now based in Malibu since 2014, she balances UK returns with US wellness pursuits.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @patsypalmerofficial
• Twitter Handle: @patsypalmerx

Personal Life

Patsy Palmer, 53, is a seasoned English actress, DJ, and entrepreneur. Her first marriage in 1998 ended in divorce by 2000; she wed Richard Merkell, a former cabbie, that same year, and they share son Fenton (born 2000), daughter Emilia (2001), and son Bertie (2010).

From her prior relationship with Alfie Rothwell, she has son Charley (1992), now an actor in films like Dunkirk.

The family relocated to California in 2014 for a balanced life amid wildfires and wellness focus. Standing at 5 feet 6 inches, Patsy prioritizes family bonds and mental health advocacy, drawing from past challenges to inspire her circle.

Net Worth

Patsy Palmer, is a seasoned English actress, DJ, and entrepreneur. Her net worth sits at an estimated £9.3 million GBP, built from EastEnders salaries, DJ gigs, fitness products, and beauty brand deals.