Tracy-Ann Oberman — things you didn't know about the TV star

Tracy-Ann Oberman is an actress, playwright, narrator and author. 

She's best known for her role as infamous killer Chrissie Watts in EastEnders and is set to make a dramatic return to the BBC soap after almost two decades.

The character was last seen in Walford in December 2005 when she was sent to prison for the murder of her husband, 'Dirty Den' Watts. More than 14 million people watched Chrissie kill off her husband in EastEnders' 20th anniversary episode, and now she's ready to shake things up on the Square once again.

Tracy-Ann said: "When Chris Clenshaw asked me to come back and re-visit her (Chrissie), I jumped at the chance. The scripts are fantastic and I hope the viewers enjoy her as much as I am enjoying playing her again."

Chrissie's comeback will air on screen this autumn, but in the meantime, what else is there to know about Tracy-Ann?

Here are a few fascinating facts about the star...

Tracy-Ann Oberman comes from a line of strong women

Tracy-Ann Oberman was born on August 25, 1966, in Brent, a borough of north-west London.

She was raised in a Jewish family - her great-grandmother was a Belarusian refugee - an attended Heathfield School for Girls.

Tracy credits her female relatives for giving her a strong work ethic and the determination to succeed in life. In an interview with The Guardian she said: "I grew up around tough matriarchs – my mum, my grandmas and my great-aunt and great-grandma. They were my icons and role models. Through them, I learned to champion myself – to create opportunities. As a result, I was never out of work. I was always doing something – running a radio play alongside a TV comedy alongside voiceover work."

Her family didn't want her to become an actress

After school, Tracy-Ann went to read classics at Leeds University, however, she soon realised that acting was her true calling and within a year transferred to Manchester University and switched to a drama degree.

Tracy-Ann continued her studies at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, as well as training for a term at the Moscow Art Theatre School.

Her parents, who hoped she'd pursue a career in law or advertising, were concerned about how she'd make a decent living, but her joining the Royal Shakespeare Company finally won them over.

Sadly, Tracy-Ann's father - who was a huge fan of EastEnders - never got to witness her success on the soap as he tragically died when she was just 20 years old.

She has a famous relative

Tracy-Ann's cousin is none other than Claudia Winkleman - the popular presenter of prime-time shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and The Traitors.

Revealing their family connection to The Guardian, Tracy-Ann explained: "They (my parents) didn’t know anyone in showbiz – Claudia Winkleman is my cousin, but her side of the family were the arty ones and we were the suburban ones."

Fun fact, Tracy-Ann and Claudia once appeared together on an episode of the BBC One quiz show, Would I Lie to You?

She's an accomplished theatre star

Tracy-Ann's acting career really started on the stage.

With the Royal Shakespeare Company, she performed in productions including The Beggar’s Opera, Macbeth, and A Christmas Carol.

In 1998 she made her West End debut in Joe Orton’s Loot, at the Vaudeville Theatre. Tracy-Ann's other theatre credits include Hello and Goodbye at Southwark Playhouse, Waiting for Lefty at the National Theatre, and being part of the 2007 production of Boeing-Boeing, which was nominated for two Olivier Awards.

Last year, Tracy-Ann broke the mould by being the first female actress to play Shylock in Brigid Larmour's production of The Merchant of Venice 1936, a role which she won rave reviews for.

Chatting to actor Rob Brydon on his podcast, Tracy-Ann described the retelling of the iconic Shakespeare play as 'a sexy bit of theatre.'

Her TV CV is rather impressive

EastEnders may be the one that made Tracy-Ann a household name, but the actress has starred in some other well known shows.

She got her TV break in 1997 with a bit part in medical drama Casualty and followed this up with parts in Kiss Me Kate (opposite Caroline Quentin and Amanda Holden), The Way It Is, and The Bill.

Tracy-Ann is also best known for her recurring role of chain-smoking “Auntie” Val Lewis on the smash-hit Jewish comedy Friday Night Dinner.

Her more recent television roles include Grantchester, Ridley Road, After Life, and Russell T Davies’  Aids drama It’s A Sin. 

Doctor Who was a dream come true for her

Tracy-Ann fulfilled a childhood ambition when she landed a role in cult series Doctor Who. 

The actress played the character of Yvonne Hartman, who was described as a 'sophisticated sort of baddie', in the two-part finale of the second series, which aired in July 2006.

As a self-confessed Whovian, Tracy-Ann was in her element. She told The Arts Desk: "I was a massive, geeky Doctor Who fan as a kid. I was the only girl in a street of boys who watched it. Russell T Davies heard I was coming out of EastEnders and I got sent the scripts. It was a two-parter, the first episodes that David Tennant filmed and it was absolute heaven: the sonic screwdriver, Cybermen AND a Dalek invasion!"

Tracy-Ann also also reprised her role as Yvonne Hartman for Big Finish’s audio Torchwood series, from 2015 onwards.

She's a published author and playwright

Talented Tracy-Ann has penned plays for radio and theatre, as well as working as a columnist for national publications including The Guardian and The Jewish Chronicle.

In 2010, she wrote and performed in her first BBC Radio 4 play, portraying the late actress Joan Crawford. 

This was quickly followed by a Radio 4 short story Girl on an Island, and a second play Rock and Doris and Elizabeth. Her other radio writing credits include News Review, Comedy Nation and Harringham Harker.

Tracy-Ann's theatrical writing debut occurred in 2008 with Three Sisters on Hope Street, an updated take on Chekhov’s Three Sisters. The show ran at Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre and London’s Hampstead Theatre.

She's a proud mum of one

This year will see Tracy-Ann celebrate 20 years of marriage to husband, Rob Cowan.

The actress tied the knot with the music producer in a winter wedding, which was held in December 2004.

The couple welcomed their daughter, Anoushka in August 2006, and Tracy-Ann has spoken of the joy that motherhood has brought her.

In a chat with The Mirror, she said: "I used to worry that I wouldn’t be maternal, but the moment Anoushka came out, I instantly fell in love with her, and she’s enriched my life enormously."

The star has spoken of the negative reaction she's received from people over only having one child.

"Sometimes people will pull a strange, sad face when I say Anoushka is an only child, and it really annoys me. I feel blessed and lucky to have the family I have."

She's had a drink with James Bond

Yes, Tracy-Ann has shared a tipple with 007 himself.

The actress once sat next to the late great Roger Moore at a private dinner for the charity Unicef.

Recalling that night in a chat with Daily Mail she shared: "He (Roger) was regaling me with stories of going to Bette Davis’s house and meeting Joan Crawford. I write plays about the golden age of Hollywood, so I was completely captivated. We sat next to each other drinking all night, and he definitely got the joke about being James Bond. He was even drinking martinis."

Shaken, not stirred, we trust.

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We work hard to ensure that all information is correct. Facts that change over time, such as age, will be correct, to the best of our knowledge, at the time of the last article update.