EastEnders actress Lucy Benjamin has marked a special family milestone with a heartfelt social media tribute to her eldest daughter, who recently celebrated her 19th birthday.
A Mother's Tribute
The 55-year-old soap star, best known for playing Lisa Fowler in the BBC One drama, took to Instagram to share a collection of photographs documenting her daughter Bessie's journey to adulthood. The emotional post featured multiple images showing Bessie at different stages of her life, including holiday snaps and more recent portraits.
In one striking photograph, Bessie bears an uncanny resemblance to her famous mother, showcasing similar curly hair while wearing a elegant teal dress. Another image captures the teenager smiling at a dinner table, while a playful selfie demonstrates her confident personality. The collection also includes nostalgic childhood pictures that highlight how much she has grown over the years.
Lucy simply captioned the post: 'Happy 19th Birthday Darlin @bessietaggart_', letting the images speak for themselves in this touching maternal tribute.
Family Life Beyond Walford
Lucy shares both of her daughters with former partner Richard Taggart. Their family expanded with the birth of Bessie in 2006, followed by younger sister Rosie in 2010. Despite her high-profile career in television, Benjamin has consistently maintained a relatively private family life away from the spotlight.
The actress has balanced motherhood with her enduring role in EastEnders, which she first joined in 1998. Her character Lisa Fowler has become one of the soap's most memorable figures, particularly through her turbulent relationship with Phil Mitchell, played by Steve McFadden.
Beyond Albert Square, Lucy has built an impressive television career appearing in shows including The Dumping Ground, Doctors and the critically acclaimed Detectorists.
Lisa Fowler's Recent Walford Drama
Benjamin's character made a dramatic return to EastEnders in 2023, bringing with her a new generation of the Mitchell family. Lisa reappeared in Walford with young Peggy, who is the daughter of her character's child Louise Mitchell (played by Tilly Keeper).
The comeback storyline revealed that Louise had developed serious problems with substance abuse following her breakup with Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters). Lisa explained to Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) that she had returned to Albert Square seeking revenge against Keanu for his affair with Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean).
In a complex plot twist, Lisa blackmailed Keanu into providing financial support in exchange for access to his granddaughter. However, viewers eventually discovered that her actions were driven by a secret gambling addiction that had taken hold of her life.
The character's most recent departure saw Lisa leaving Walford in the back of a taxi, heading back to Portugal while thwarting Keanu's attempts to secure custody of Peggy. This exit left the door open for potential future returns, maintaining the ongoing connection between Lucy Benjamin and the long-running soap.
As Lucy celebrates her daughter's 19th birthday away from the cameras, fans continue to speculate about when they might see Lisa Fowler back on their screens again.
