stopped pleasing people – and I'm calmer and more self assured than I've ever been." In 2001, Dean became engaged to jobbing actor Jason Pethers after knowing him for only a few months. They married in September 2002 at All Saints' Church in Marylebone. Her close friend and EastEnders co-star, Susan Tully, was a bridesmaid at the wedding. Many of Dean's fellow castmates from EastEnders (past and present) attended the wedding. After five years of marriage, it was announced in 2007 that Dean and Pethers had separated because Pethers was reluctant to have children. Her older brother, Stephen J. Dean, is also a performer; they have appeared together on stage in several pantomimes. As well as acting, Dean is a keen singer (with a mezzo-soprano voice) and tap dancer. Dean currently lives in the Bedford village of Wootton. In June 2022, when accepting an award at The British Soap Awards, Dean revealed that her father had died and she dedicated the award to him. Charity work In 1997, Dean along with Susan Tully, were involved with the Third World charity, Plan International, and were sent to a remote village in Senegal to help highlight one of the organisation's aid projects — designed to bring running water to drought hit areas. Filmography Theatre References External links 1967 births Living people English soap opera actresses English film actresses English stage actresses English women singers People from Potters Bar Alumni of the Sylvia Young Theatre School English television actresses Musicians from Hertfordshire Actresses from Hertfordshire BBC Records artists