Inside Kellie Bright’s home life as EastEnders’ Linda Carter prepares to leave Albert Square

Away from the camera, Kellie, 45, is proud of her simple life at home with three sons Freddy, Rudy and Gene, with husband Paul Stocker.

Kellie Bright was born to her father, Alan Bright, and her mother, Denise Bright, who both welcomed the birth of their daughter on July 1, 1976, in Brentwood, England.

Before filming in EastEnders, Kellie worked as a waiter, receptionist and store assistant. She is also known for her roles in Ali G Indahouse (2002) and Xenoblade Chronicles (2010).

Kellie originally auditioned for the role of Tanya Branning on EastEnders, but Jo Joyner was cast instead. However, Kellie later landed the role of Linda Carter in the soap opera years later.

Her role as Linda earned her the British Soap Awards for Best Actress and Best Performance in 2015.

Actor’s husband

Viewers may recognize Kellie’s husband Paul, who has starred in many British TV shows over the years – including a very brief cameo as a cop in Walford.

Proud Kellie tweeted the news, urging fans to pay attention to her husband as he toasted Bobby Beale about killing his sister Lucy, which was the main storyline on the soap at the time.

He has also had a role in Keira Knightley and James McCavoy’s Atonement, as well as in two other British television series, Casualty and Doctors.

age gap

Things didn’t always go smoothly for the acting couple, as their 7-year age gap caused some tension and led to a temporary breakup.

In an interview with ALRIGHT! JournalKellie said that there was a time when the couple’s relationship was quite broken.

She added: “The reality has started. I’m 31 and want to have kids, and Paul is 24 and wasn’t at the time. I feel it’s not fair to Paul – I’m worried he’ll resent it. with me.”

But they reunited and the pair were married in 2014, in the tiny village of Trelill, Cornwall on an all-star date.

Three sons

Kellie and Paul are the proud parents of three boys – Freddy, 9, Gene, 4, and Rudy, born last year.

Her first son, Freddie, was conceived naturally and was born in December 2011. Her second child, Gene, was born on November 21, 2016 after the couple applied insemination. test tube sperm. After Gene’s birth, the duo froze the three embryos.

Despite two failed pregnancies after Gene, Kellie later announced she was pregnant with her third child, Rudy, who she gave birth to in September 2021.

In a previous interview with the Mirror, the EastEnders actress said: “I’m very philosophical that because of the way we’ve had children – through IVF and frozen embryo transfers – they really make sense here.

“Rudy is no exception and if anything I feel it more for him because of his journey here. He is the last surviving embryo and its creator. For whatever whatever reason, I want to raise the boy.”

Kellie also revealed that there will be no more babies after Rudy.

“I feel really lucky to be able to experience that again. But now, 100%, I feel like a complete family,” she said.

Almost gave birth in a car

Kellie said her second son Gene was almost born in a car and revealed she didn’t expect her labor to go so quickly.

After waking up early in the morning due to labor pains, she said when she got in the car to go to the hospital, she began to think the baby might be coming very soon.

Talking to ALRIGHT! Journal, Kellie said: “I was very uncomfortable sitting in the chair, the contractions were quite fast at the time. But of course it was after school so we got stuck in traffic.

“When we got to the hospital, a midwife could see I was in labor – about 5cm dilated – so she took me straight to the delivery room.”

She added: “About 20 minutes after we arrived at 9am, my water broke and the midwife said I was much further away than she thought.”

EastEnders airs tonight ( May 18) at 7:30pm on BBC One.