ActressBritishLondoner21st-century actor

Jacqueline Jossa

Jacqueline Jossa is an English actress known for her role as Lauren Branning in EastEnders, winning I'm a Celebrity, and her social media influencing.

1. Early Life

Jacqueline Jossa's early life was marked by her birth in Bexley, her family background, and her formal training in performing arts.

1.1. Birth and Family

Jacqueline Mary Jossa was born on 29 October 1992 in Bexley, England. She has an older sister named Katrina and two older brothers who sadly died in infancy. Her family includes notable relatives such as her cousin Megan Jossa, who also appeared in EastEnders, and Ciara Watling, a professional footballer who plays for the Northern Ireland international team.

1.2. Education

Jossa pursued her performing arts education at D&B Theatre School located in Bromley, London. Following her training there, she continued to refine her skills at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London, further solidifying her foundation in acting.

2. Career

Jacqueline Jossa's career primarily spans acting in television dramas and appearances in reality television, alongside her more recent work as a social media influencer.

2.1. Acting Career

Jossa's acting career is most notably defined by her long-standing role in the BBC soap opera EastEnders and her participation in other television productions.

2.1.1. EastEnders

In 2010, Jacqueline Jossa was cast in the pivotal role of Lauren Branning in EastEnders, a character she portrayed for many years. She expressed excitement about joining the popular show, having been a long-time fan herself. Her inaugural appearance as Lauren Branning aired on 27 September 2010. During her tenure, Jossa also extended her role to Lauren's internet spin-off series, Lauren's Diaries, which ran for two series in 2010 and 2011.

In September 2017, it was announced that Jossa would be departing EastEnders after seven years, a decision made by the then-new temporary producer John Yorke. Her on-screen sister, Lorna Fitzgerald, who played Abi Branning, also exited the show at the same time. Jossa's final scenes in her initial run aired on 16 February 2018.

Jossa made a brief return to the soap in December 2022 for the funeral episode of Lauren's step-grandmother, Dot Cotton, portrayed by June Brown, departing again in the subsequent episode. A surprise unannounced appearance followed on 22 June 2023, which facilitated the permanent return of Peter Beale, played by Thomas Law. In October 2023, it was officially confirmed that Jossa would be making a permanent return to EastEnders.

2.1.2. Other Television Appearances

Beyond her leading role in EastEnders, Jossa has also appeared in other television programs. In 2013, she served as a panellist on the BBC Three comedy panel show Sweat the Small Stuff.

In November 2019, Jossa participated as a contestant on the nineteenth series of the ITV reality television series I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. She ultimately emerged as the winner of the competition, earning the title of 'Queen of the Jungle'.

2.2. Other Professional Activities

In addition to her acting work, Jacqueline Jossa has expanded her professional endeavors into the digital realm, leveraging her public profile.

2.2.1. Influencer Activities

Jacqueline Jossa actively engages in advertising products on social media platforms, functioning as an influencer. This role involves creating content to promote various goods and services to her followers. In June 2022, the Advertising Standards Agency publicly issued a reprimand against her for failing to adequately disclose financial connections with the advertisers whose products she promoted. This action underscored the regulatory body's enforcement of transparency requirements for social media influencers.

3. Personal Life

On 24 June 2017, Jacqueline Jossa married television personality Dan Osborne. The couple has two daughters together, born in 2015 and 2018. Her personal connections also include her cousin Megan Jossa, who previously appeared in EastEnders as Courtney Mitchell, and her cousin Ciara Watling, an international footballer for Northern Ireland.

4. Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010-2018, 2022-presentEastEndersLauren BranningRegular role
2019I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!HerselfWinner (season 19)

5. Awards and Nominations

Jacqueline Jossa has received several accolades and nominations throughout her acting career, particularly for her work on EastEnders.

She was nominated for "Best Soap Newcomer" at the 2011 TV Choice Awards. On 25 January 2012, she won "Best Newcomer" at the National Television Awards. Jossa was shortlisted for "Sexiest Female" at The British Soap Awards in 2012, 2013, and 2014, though she did not win, losing to Michelle Keegan (who played Tina McIntyre) from Coronation Street. In 2013, she was nominated for "Best Actress" at the Inside Soap Awards, an award she subsequently won. That same year, she was also nominated for "Best Storyline" for "Lauren's struggle with alcohol" and received nominations for 'Sexiest Female' for four consecutive years, from 2013 to 2016.

YearCeremonyAwardWorkResult
2011TV Choice AwardsBest Soap NewcomerEastEndersNominated
2012National Television AwardsBest NewcomerWon
2012All About Soap AwardsBest Dressed Soap StarNominated
2012The British Soap AwardsSexiest FemaleNominated
2012Inside Soap AwardsSexiest FemaleNominated
2012Inside Soap AwardsBest Dressed Soap StarNominated
2013National Television AwardsSerial Drama PerformanceLonglisted
2013All About Soap AwardsBest Stunt: Joey and Lauren's CrashNominated
2013All About Soap AwardsForbidden Lovers: Joey and LaurenNominated
2013British Soap AwardsSexiest FemaleNominated
2013Inside Soap AwardsBest ActressWon
2013Inside Soap AwardsSexiest FemaleNominated
2013Inside Soap AwardsBest Storyline: Lauren's Struggle With AlcoholNominated
2014British Soap AwardsSexiest FemaleNominated
2014Inside Soap AwardsSexiest FemaleNominated
2015Inside Soap AwardsSexiest FemaleNominated
2016Inside Soap AwardsSexiest FemaleNominated