Strictly’s Kellie Bright: Everything you need to know about the EastEnders star

Born: 1st July 1976

Mmhmm, that's right; in 2002, Kellie beat Tamzin Outhwaite to the much coveted role of Me Julie in the smash hit movie Ali G Indahouse. Wicked!

How could you have forgotten that Kellie Bright was in Bad Girls? The talented actress played Cassie Tyler for 12 episodes alongside future EastEnders co-star Linda Henry. Yup, Shirley was in it too!

Kellie landed the role of Beauty in Beauty And The Beast - albeit the 1992 version, as opposed to the popular Disney version. Still, we can't think of a better woman for the role!

Unsurprisingly, the talented Kellie Bright was nominated for the Serial Drama Performance Award at the NTAs in 2015.She said of the nomination: "It makes me really proud. I'm really proud to be part of the show."It's lovely, but you know we didn't come in for an award - we came in to just do what we do and play our parts, and it's just sort of lovely the way it's all turned out."

Ever played the game Fable III? Well, Kellie is the voice of The Hero Of Blackwall - yup, she recorded her voice for it in 2010. Talk about multi-talented!

Kellie scored the plum role of Joanna Burrows in ITV's The Upper Hand. She was just 13-years-old when it began - and kept her role throughout the series, which ran for six years

Kellie went on to star in one-off roles in classic TV shows such as Holby City, Casualty, Hotel Babylon, Silent Witness and The Catherine Tate Show - as well as plenty more. Talk about being a busy girl!

In 2002, Kellie starred (alongside ex-EastEnder Gillian Taylforth and '60s heart-throb Adam Faith in The House That Jack Built) as Lisa. She said of the role: "I love the fact she is so shallow and bitchy - obviously she's nothing like me."It was quite refreshing in a way."

Kellie Bright landed on Albert Square - alongside on-screen husband Danny Dyer - in 2013. They took over The Queen Vic… and changed Walford forever. In the best possible way, obviously; after all, EastEnders is all about powerful women - and Linda Carter is a force to be reckoned with!She said at the time: “I'm very excited about joining the show. Not only am I looking forward to working with Danny but becoming Landlady of The Vic is a real honour.”

In shocking, simple and powerful scenes, Kellie Bright won enormous praise for her portrayal of Linda Carter's shocking rape at the hands of Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo) - and the storyline continues even now, as the brave Queen Vic landlady finally tells police about the crime. Speaking about the scenes, Kellie said: "It's a privilege to be part of a storyline that's so important and touches so many people. "I feel really proud to be part of the storyline and I'm really proud to be part of a show that was willing to go there and not shy away from something that really does need to be addressed and talked about and pushed further because it's very prevalent in today's society."

Kellie Bright married her long-term partner Paul Stocker on 5th July 2014.

While struggling to find work, Kellie began to doubt her acting abilities - and her looks. "I was going through one of the worst periods of my life," she said. "I was getting rejected from one job after another and no matter how much I tried not to take it personally, a part of me couldn't help but think: 'I was too ugly to get that part'." We're so glad she was proved wrong.

In 2012, Kellie and Paul Stocker welcomed a baby boy, whom they named Freddie. She has worked hard to protect her little boy from the limelight.

Kellie began working as a waitress while The Upper Hand was still on telly - and was ridiculed in the press for it. She said: "I didn't have any acting work, so I got a job waiting on tables to pay the mortgage, but it was while The Upper Hand was still on air. "Next thing I know, a customer had called a newspaper saying I was there and some photographers appeared out of the blue snapping away. "The headline the next day was From Upper Hand To Helping Hand. I was quite young when that happened and that hurt me a lot."

In August 2015, it was confirmed that Kellie Bright would be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing. "There are two main reasons I want to take part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing," she explained. "The first is that as I will be turning 40 next year, I think it is the perfect time for a new, exciting challenge. The second reason is because if I said 'no', Linda Carter would never forgive me!"

When The Upper Hand finished, Kellie found it difficult to find work - and was forced to take on jobs as a shop girl and a nightclub receptionist. She said: "For a while I worked as a receptionist in a London nightclub but it was horrible because I was just constantly ringing for ambulances. I've never seen so much violence. "It was a good job because it meant I could keep my days free for auditions but I only stuck it for a month."