Tameka Empson

In 1996, she appeared in the film Beautiful Thing as Leah Russell, the next-door neighbour of the main characters.

Empson worked alongside Linda Henry, both of whom would eventually join the cast of EastEnders; in 1998 she appeared as the love rival to the main character in the film Babymother.

[7] Empson confirmed on Loose Women that the break was her maternity leave for her second child, and that she did not deliberately keep it a secret, but that she "just wanted to enjoy it".

[8] Empson is a regular performer at the Hackney Empire starring in the theatre's annual pantomime since 2004; she has also starred in Anansi and the Magic Mirror and has a live sketch and comedy show (The Kat and Tameka Show) with Choice FM DJ Kat B.

[9] Later that year, she appeared as a panellist on The Apprentice: You're Fired,[10] and voiced the role of Pearl the Police Horse on the Disney Channel series 101 Dalmatian Street.

Empson at the EastEnders Meet and Greet event in 2016
Empson at the Inside Soap Awards in 2010