EastEnders’ Phil Mitchell star’s life away from Walford – from co-star split to five children
EastEnders star Steve McFadden has been playing hardman Phil Mitchell since 1990 and has had his fair share of dramatic storylines - but what do we know about the actor's life away from the BBC soap
EastEnders icon Steve McFadden has been captivating audiences with his portrayal of Phil Mitchell since February 20, 1990, and has since ascended to become one of the most adored soap stars in British history.
Over the past 35 years, Phil has grappled with a range of real-life issues including alcoholism, grief and most recently loneliness and depression.
Additionally, he’s had more wives and girlfriends than we can count, and was once shot in a massive ‘whodunit’ – but fortunately, Phil survived to tell the tale. EastEnders fans will feel as though they know Phil personally as he’s been a part of our lives for decades but actor Steve, 65, tends to stay away from the spotlight.
So as the soap turns 40 – let’s take a peek at his life outside of Phil Mitchell. Steve Robert McFadden hails from Westminster, London, and before finding fame on EastEnders he worked in a variety of ‘regular’ jobs, including at a builder’s merchant, picking carrots and trying his hand as a plumber.
However, Steve turned to the arts and enrolled at university before studying acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He landed his first acting role in 1987 in the film The Firm before joining EastEnders in 1990.
EastEnders icon Steve McFadden has been captivating audiences with his portrayal of Phil Mitchell since February 20, 1990(Image: PA)
Alongside actor Ross Kemp, the duo were cast as brothers Phil and Grant Mitchell, with the late Dame Barbara Windsor playing the boys’ mother, Peggy Mitchell, reports Plymouth Live.
The iconic Mitchell brothers rampaged through the Square, bringing us the unforgettable ‘Sharongate’ drama that saw Phil having an illicit affair with his brother’s wife Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), whom he also ended up marrying – and subsequently divorcing. Ross Kemp has stormed back into Walford to come to the aid of his bro Phil who’s battling with his mental health woes.
Steve has scooped up a load of gongs including Best Soap Actor at the Inside Soap Awards, not to mention bagging the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award at The British Soap Awards in 2016. On snagging the trophy, Steve quipped: “I don’t know what to say because I don’t usually get awards. But I’ve got one now, so what I will say is thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Steve dated Lucy Benjamin in real-life(Image: BBC / Kieron McCarron)
He also gave a huge shoutout to Dame Barbara Windsor, who stars as his on-screen mum Peggy Mitchell, adding: “She’s been an absolute pleasure to work with, and a wonderful person and friend in my life. Thank you Barb for everything.”
Off the screen, Steve’s had quite the romantic saga too. He and fellow EastEnders actor Lucy Benjamin, aka his on-screen spouse Lisa Fowler, were the talk of the town back in the day.
They sparked up a romance in 1999, which lasted until 2003 when they decided to go their separate ways. Still, the pair have kept up a solid friendship, with Lucy spilling the beans on ITV’s Loose Women about how top-notch it was teaming up with Steve again when Lisa popped back to Albert Square in 2017.
“There is so much stuff between Lisa and Phil. It was easy to play that. It was strange really, but lovely to be working with Steve, Tish and Natalie Cassidy again,” Lucy revealed. She continued: “It was strange really but within 10 minutes it was like I’d never been away. It felt like reuniting with old friends and I knew they would take good care of me upon my return.”
Phil is known for being the Walford bad boy(Image: BBC)
Away from the Square, Steve is a proud father of five children, with his youngest born in 2016. He shares his eldest son Matt, who is now believed to be in his mid-thirties, with childhood sweetheart Sue Marshall. He later welcomed two daughters, Teona and Mollie Jane, with his previous partner Angela Bostock.
In 2009, he became a dad for the fourth time when then-girlfriend Rachel Sidwell gave birth to daughter Amelie Tinkerbell. The couple enjoyed a brief relationship before splitting two months after Amelie’s birth.
Steve welcomed his fifth child, a daughter named Frankie, in June 2016 with his long-term girlfriend Karen Cairns. The couple is believed to still be together.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One
